CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Lord Chancellor will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight dated 6 April 2006.

Harriet Harman: The Lord Chancellor sent a reply to the letter from the hon. Member on 22 May 2006. The Lord Chancellor hopes to be in a position to send a further letter later this month.

Courts Areas

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will request the Courts Service to reconsider its plans to merge the Essex Courts Area with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Courts Area.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 11 September 2006
	Decisions were made on administrative area restructuring after careful consideration by Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) of the need to provide the most effective way to administer the courts and keep costs to a minimum. Local area directors were fully involved in these decisions. Decisions in relation to the restructuring of courts boards areas have yet to be taken.

Courts Areas

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether it is her policy that courts areas should have the same boundaries as police forces; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: It is not the policy of the Department for Constitutional Affairs that the administrative areas of Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) should have the same boundaries as police forces. However, the operational business of HMCS should be arranged so that partnerships with other criminal justice agencies continues to operate effectively.

Departmental Contracts

Maria Miller: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total value is of contracts his Department holds with  (a) ER Consultants and  (b) Praesta; and which Ministers make use of each company's services.

Bridget Prentice: holding answer 11 September 2006
	My Department has a contract with ER Consultants for the provision of change management activities placed to the Wales Office, the contract value is in the region of £40,000. My Department has also engaged the services of Praesta for the provision of coaching programmes and leadership through a Home Office Framework Agreement. The contract value is in the region of £220,000.

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate has been made of the cost to her Department of implementing sections  (a) 1 and  (b) 4 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 1898-99W, on the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act, what estimate has been made of the cost to her Department of implementing sections  (a) 1 and  (b) 4 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

Harriet Harman: Section 1 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (DVCVA) 2004—to make breach of a non-molestation order a criminal offence—is costed at £2.8 million per full year. Section 4 is costed at £2.9 million per full year. However, if brought in together this limits costs to £5 million per full year. These are annual continuing costs not just start-up costs.
	Section 10 of the DVCVA 2004 (common assault to be an arrestable offence) was also costed at £5 million per full year. This has been commenced via the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005. Thus the full cost to DCA of implementing the DVCVA is £10 million per full year. We regularly review budgets to identify funding at the earliest opportunity.

Dr. David Kelly

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1615W, on Dr. David Kelly, on what date this meeting was fixed; and what account was taken of the suspension of the inquest into the death of Dr. David Kelly in deciding whether discussing certification was appropriate.

Harriet Harman: The Oxfordshire coroner suggested the meeting on 11 August 2003 the week before it took place as he was going to be in London on that day on other business. The Lord Chancellor had already indicated to the coroner that he was minded to invoke his section 17A powers unless there was exceptional reason why he should not do so. The meeting on 11 August was to discuss how the coroner might resume the inquest to admit further evidence of the cause of death so that it might be accurately recorded by the registrar.

Interim Possession Orders

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many interim possession order applications have been  (a) made and  (b) granted in each year since 2000; and if she will make statement.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The following table shows the number of applications for interim possession orders and the number of orders made since 2000 for England and Wales.
	The volumes of interim possession applications and orders have remained at a low level between 2000 and 2005. The Department does not collect data on the reasons for the steep changes in volumes for the years 2002 and 2003.
	
		
			  Number of applications for interim possession orders and orders made, 2000-05 
			   Applications for interim orders  Interim orders made 
			 2000 409 76 
			 2001 504 126 
			 2002 (1)2,869 418 
			 2003 (1)2,528 226 
			 2004 230 103 
			 2005 312 273 
			 (1 )The table shows large increase between 2002 and 2003, however this is less marked when divided by court and by month.

Law Students

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many bursaries were awarded by the Law Society to mature law students wishing to study the legal practice course in each year since 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The details of the number of bursaries awarded to students over 25 are set out in the table as follows:
	
		
			   Number of bursaries awarded by the Law Society to law students over 25 
			 2006 8 
			 2005 7 
			 2004 9 
			 2003 11 
			 2002 9

Law Students

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many training contracts the Law Society awarded to law students who were  (a) in their 20s,  (b) in their 30s,  (c) in their 40s and  (d) in their 50s in each year since 2001-02.

Harriet Harman: The Law Society does not award training contracts. They are awarded by individual firms of solicitors and other authorised training establishments.
	The number of training contracts by age is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the following table shows the number of total training contracts awarded irrespective of age.
	
		
			   Number of training contracts awarded to law students 
			 2005 5,732 
			 2004 5,708 
			 2003 5,650 
			 2002 5,385 
			 2001 5,162 
			 2000 4,827

Legal Aid

Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether it is the policy of the Legal Services Commission before making an award of legal aid to check whether applicants for legal aid are vexatious litigants acting  (a) with and  (b) without the permission of a High Court judge to initiate proceedings.

Vera Baird: No. When an applicant applies for legal aid, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) relies on the client's solicitor to supply them with all relevant information. The fact that an applicant is a vexatious litigant is a relevant factor for the LSC in assessing whether a case merits funding.

Medical Assessments

Danny Alexander: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 286W, on medical assessments, in how many appeals the appellant was successful in each year since 2001, broken down by benefit type.

Vera Baird: The information requested is in Table 1.
	Since my answer of 27 June 2006, more up-to-date data has become available regarding the number of appeals received and this is in Table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: Appeals cleared in favour of appellant, April 2001 to March 2006 
			   Industrial injuries disablement benefit  Incapacity benefit, without PCA  Incapacity benefit, with PCA  Disability living allowance  Attendance allowance  Total 
			 2001-02 7,490 1,410 13,480 41,620 4,460 68,450 
			 2002-03 6,140 1,750 17,880 38,600 3,820 68,190 
			 2003-04 5,490 1,720 20,530 37,230 3,400 68,370 
			 2004-05 3,970 1,690 19,460 37,180 2,670 64,970 
			 2005-06 3,750 1,730 21,950 35,500 2,300 65,220 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Appeals received by the Appeals Service, from April 2001 to March 2006 
			   Industrial injuries disablement benefit  Incapacity benefit, without PCA  Incapacity benefit, with PCA  Disability living allowance  Attendance allowance  Total 
			 2001-02 22,330 6,260 43,510 83,430 11,490 167,010 
			 2002-03 18,350 6,950 54,200 81,710 10,320 171,530 
			 2003-04 15,560 7,410 55,560 84,320 9,730 172,580 
			 2004-05 12,210 7,070 55,490 85,510 8,190 168,480 
			 2005-06 11,560 7,200 56,430 82,230 7,220 164,650 
			  Notes: 1. All figures are subject to change as more up-to-date data become available. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. PCA=Personal capability assessment. 4. These data are drawn from management information and should not be used in conjunction with sample statistics drawn from the benefit administration systems. 5. Financial years are from April to March each year.  Source: 100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System (21 July, 2006).

Special Advisers

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what  (a) qualifications and  (b) previous experience the special advisers appointed to her Department have.

Vera Baird: My Department's special advisers were appointed in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Advertising Campaigns

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advertising campaigns the Department ran between 2000 and June 2004; and what the  (a) date and  (b) cost was of each.

Barry Gardiner: DEFRA was created in June 2001. Significant advertising campaigns run by DEFRA's Communications Directorate during the period June 2001 to June 2004 included:
	
		
			   Advertising campaigns on  £ 
			 2002-03 Illegal food imports 293,143 
			 2003-04 Illegal food imports 119,146 
			 2004-05 Horse passports 46,719 
		
	
	The Department did not maintain separate records of its overall expenditure on advertising during the period in question. The expenditure for publicity by DEFRA's Communications Directorate includes marketing, advertising, publications, events, shows and direct mailings and is recorded for the financial years since DEFRA's creation in June 2001 as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2001-02 6.6 
			 2002-03 4.7 
			 2003-04 2.5 
			 2004-05 4.2

Carbon Audits

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to publish details of the proposed individual carbon audits for homes; and if he will ensure that such audits involve energy efficiency advice centres.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The Government recognises the importance of individual action in reducing carbon emissions from our homes. In order to help them take the right action, it is important that householders have relevant information about the energy use in their homes.
	In view of this, we fund the activities of the Energy Saving Trust, which has developed a range of programmes to support improved energy efficiency in the household sector. The Trust provides home energy checks and audits via the Energy Efficiency Advice Centres and its Sustainable Energy Network.
	We will be working with the Trust and other stakeholders to continue to improve the information available to householders. In addition, the Government are currently considering how to improve information to householders through better billing and metering.

Computing Equipment

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) USB (i) flash drives and (ii) memory sticks,  (b) compact discs,  (c) DVD-ROM discs,  (d) laptop computers,  (e) external computer hard drives,  (f) internal computer hard drives and  (g) desktop computers were purchased for use in his Department in each month since March 2005.

Barry Gardiner: The following items have been purchased through the Department's official purchasing mechanism, Buy4Defra. These figures do not include items that may have been purchased independently, such as purchases made through non-framework suppliers, the Government Procurement Card or claimed back through i-Expenses. Identifying this extra information, would incur disproportionate cost to the Department.
	
		
			   (a) (i)  (a) (ii)  (b)( 1)  (c)( 1)  (d)( 2)  (e)  (f)  (g)( 2) 
			  2005 
			 March 11 149 485 0 0 0 8 0 
			 April 2 211 71 0 0 1 0 0 
			 May 0 138 20 0 0 0 0 0 
			 June 0 162 140 0 0 3 0 0 
			 July 1 169 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 August 0 228 225 0 0 3 0 0 
			 September 0 501 40 0 0 0 0 0 
			 October 0 335 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 November 0 211 90 0 0 0 0 0 
			 December 0 59 25 0 0 2 0 0 
			  
			  2006 
			 January 0 164 20 0 0 1 0 0 
			 February 0 721 390 0 0 2 0 0 
			 March 0 301 937 0 0 0 0 0 
			 April 0 90 815 10 0 1 0 0 
			 May 0 271 888 71 0 0 0 0 
			 June 0 94 788 34 0 0 0 0 
			 July(3) 0 59 n/a n/a 0 2 2 0 
			 Total 14 3,863 4,934 115 0 16 11 0 
			 n/a = not available. (1) These items are ordered as stationery. (2) Defra outsourced its IT function to IBM on 1 October 2004 and, as part of this arrangement, Defra pays IBM for IT services, which includes the provision of laptop and desktop computers. Therefore, none of items  (d) laptop computers and  (g) desktop computers have been purchased in the period covered by this question. (3) To 25 July 2006.

Correspondence

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will reply to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed's letters of 15 December 2005 and 28 February 2006 concerning the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (DEFRA Ref: 228270).

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 11 September 2006
	I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member's letters. A reply was sent on 22 July 2006. I have arranged for another copy to be sent.

Criminal Offences

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many criminal offences his Department has created by Orders in Council in each year since 1997.

Barry Gardiner: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was not responsible for the creation of any criminal offences by Order in Council between October 2000 and August 2006.
	Providing an answer to the question for the period 1997 to October 2000 would involve a disproportionate use of time and resources because of the amount of research that would have to be done.

Departmental Staff (Criminal Activity)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of his Department's employees have been  (a) dismissed,  (b) suspended and  (c) subject to disciplinary action for criminal activity in each year since 1997.

Barry Gardiner: The number of employees  (a) dismissed,  (b) suspended and  (c) subject to disciplinary action for criminal activity in core-DEFRA in each year since it was created on 9 June 2001 is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2001 1 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 0 
		
	
	The above cases all went through stages  (a),  (b) and  (c).
	The Civil Service Management Code sets out the requirements for Departments to have procedures in place to deal with conduct and disciplinary issues. The DEFRA procedures are laid down in the staff handbook which is accessed on the departmental Intranet.

Direct Mail (Recycling)

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of direct mail which can be recycled; what estimate he has made of the proportion of paper waste represented by direct mail in the last year for which figures are available; and what steps the Government are taking to reduce the volume of direct mail.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 15 November 2005,  Official Report, column 1063W.

Energy Generation Projects

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government have allocated funding to projects to generate energy from human waste.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 11 September 2006
	No DEFRA funding has been allocated to projects to generate energy from human waste. Generating energy at sewage treatment works via gas engines using gas from anaerobic digestion is proven technology in place for decades, so a project of this kind is unlikely to warrant special development funds.

Environment Agency and British Waterways

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the recently announced reduction in the 2006-07 budget of the Environment Agency and British Waterways; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: Following the announcement of the budget reductions, the Department has been working closely with both the Environment Agency and British Waterways to consider further the impact of the cuts and options for managing the shortfall.
	The Environment Agency Board will be considering actions to be taken at its meeting on 19 and 20 September. The Board of British Waterways will be considering what actions are necessary at its meeting on 27 and 28 September.
	Once the Boards' proposals are clear, we will take stock of the implications for the strategic targets and outcomes.

Flood and Coastal Defences

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his answer of 24 July 2006,  Official Report, column 717W, on flood and coastal defences, whether his Department has required the Environment Agency to reduce expenditure on flood defences in 2006-07.

Ian Pearson: Spending on flood risk management will be reduced by £14.9 million in 2006-07. This will be applied to the Environment Agency's flood risk management grant in aid which will be reduced from £428 million to £413 million.
	The reduction will apply only to non-capital spend which funds such items as staff costs, operational spend and maintenance of defences. Funding for the Agency's capital flood risk improvement programme is not affected. This reduction applies to 2006-07 only. Funding for later years has yet to be decided.
	The Government are committed to the effective management of flood and coastal erosion risk. Total central and local government funding has nearly doubled from £307 million in 1996-97 to some £600 million in 2005-06, an increase in real terms of 40 per cent. after inflation.

Flood and Coastal Defences

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in defining flood risk from the River Derwent in the section of the river within the district of South Derbyshire.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The Environment Agency (EA) is the principal operating authority for flood risk management in England and has a general supervisory duty over all matters relating to flood defence. The EA's River Derwent preliminary strategic review (PSR), which recommended the consideration of future works in South Derbyshire, including Alvaston, Derby and Little Chester, was completed in August 2004.
	A viability report identified a number of gaps in data and the need for improvements to the existing hydraulic model through Derby. The report reviewed the economic case in the PSR and suggested that a significant number of properties were at risk overall during a one in 100 year flood risk event. The report was completed in October 2005.
	Due to the scale of flooding problems, a strategic analysis is appropriate for the business case. This strategy, which is due to be completed in autumn 2007, will examine the alternative options for sustainable flood risk management in Derby during the next 100 years.
	The strategy has now been extended to consider the Derwent from Derby to the River Trent, including Ambaston. Data on this area are currently being collected and work undertaken to develop the hydraulic model to extend it down to the confluence. The strategy is at the pre-scoping data gathering stage. It is anticipated that the scoping report will be issued in November 2006. The strategy will provide a plan for the first five years of capital investment, including an assessment of the appropriate maintenance strategy for the existing defences. A strategic environmental assessment will also be produced. The scoping report will be reissued to cover the increased project scope and area. An extensive process of consultation is planned.

Horse Exports

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many former racehorses have been exported from the UK for slaughter in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many horses were exported from the UK in each of the last five years; and how many of these were exported for slaughter.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 11 September 2006
	According to the Department's system for issuing export health certificates, the number of equines certified for export from the United Kingdom are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002 10,785 
			 2003 9,130 
			 2004 12,856 
			 2005 7,637 
			 2006 (to end June) 2,820 
		
	
	These figures include the temporary export of equines as well as the re-export of imported animals and are subject to updating and amendment as more data become available.
	These data do not include equines exported in accordance with the tripartite agreement, under which export health certificates are not required for the movement of certain horses from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland and France.
	The tripartite agreement was suspended during the foot and mouth outbreak which led to exports of equines to the Republic of Ireland and France requiring export health certificates.
	No applications for the export of horses for slaughter have been received in the last five years.

Illegal Cattle Movements

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have been  (a) prosecuted for and  (b) convicted of making illegal cattle movements in each year since 2000 where the prosecution was subsequently found to have been made in error.

Barry Gardiner: Around 210 cases prosecuted by DEFRA and local authorities since 2003 have resulted in conviction for breach of the Cattle Identification Regulation. A further breakdown is not available because the figures are not held centrally.
	These cases involved keepers prosecuted because of failure to undertake the necessary action to identify cattle and report their movements. These are fundamental requirements if we are to control disease and to prevent cattle which may have BSE from entering the human food chain.
	We have advised that, although these keepers failed to comply with their European Community law obligations, the enforcement provisions in the Cattle Identification and Cattle Database Regulation are invalid because they are drafted in such a way that criminal liability depends on a failure to comply with the requirements set out in European legislation (Council Regulation 1760/2000) which was not in force at the time the offences were committed. This situation arose because the original Council Regulation 820/97 was replaced by Council Regulation 1760/2000 in July 2000.

IT Contracts

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value was of each IT contract awarded by his Department in each of the last five years; and who the contractor was in each case.

Barry Gardiner: In each of the last five years DEFRA has awarded the following IT contracts:
	In 2001 a contract to the value of £3 million + VAT was awarded to Infoterra Ltd.
	In 2002 a contract to the value of £16.1 million was awarded to LogicaCMG.
	In 2003 a contract to the value of £34.1 million was awarded to Accenture.
	In 2004 a contract to the value of £85 million per year was awarded to IBM.
	In 2005 no major IT contracts were awarded.
	In addition, a very large number of IT-related contracts of varying values have been let throughout this period, including software licensing/support agreements and consultancy services. In particular, there were multiple consultancy support contracts for the e-nabling/outsourcing programme.
	There will have also been many, smaller, IT contracts awarded; however, information on these is neither managed nor maintained centrally, and therefore it would incur disproportionate costs to collate.

IT Contracts

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which IT contracts awarded by his Department in each of the last five years have been abandoned; and what the value was in each case.

Barry Gardiner: None of the IT contracts awarded by DEFRA in the last five years has been abandoned.

Landfill Tax

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms he has put in place to assess the environmental benefits of the landfill tax credit scheme.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Landfill tax is one of a number of measures designed to improve the efficient use of resources, encourage effective management of waste and meet our commitment to reduce the volume of household waste sent to landfill. Other measures include landfill allowance trading scheme, regulation and recycling targets for local authorities. As part of the annual Budget process, the Government assesses the impact of landfill tax alongside these initiatives against a range of social, economic and environmental factors, including assessing the volume of waste sent to landfill and the impact on business competitiveness.
	There are clear signs that the landfill tax and the other initiatives are working together to reduce our reliance on landfill. The amount of active waste going to landfill fell by almost 16 per cent. between 1997 and 2005 while the economy grew by nearly 25 per cent.

Ministerial Meetings

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he last met his Scottish counterpart; and what subjects were discussed.

Barry Gardiner: Ministers have regular dialogues with ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Executive, discussing a wide range of issues of mutual interest. It is not our practice to disclose details of such meetings.

Ministerial Offices

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times his ministerial office has been decorated in each of the last five years.

Barry Gardiner: The Secretary of State's private office has not been decorated since the relocation of the ministerial team from 3-8 Whitehall Place to the Nobel House complex in 1997.

Natural England

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chair of Natural England since his appointment on the budget of Natural England; and what the outcome was.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 11 September 2006
	I have discussed budgetary issues with Sir Martin Doughty, the Chair of Natural England, and we have agreed a revised budget for 2006-07. We hope to agree a 2007-08 budget by November.
	I understand the concerns which have been expressed by stakeholders about the impact of a reduced budget on Natural England's important work, but I am confident that Natural England will have sufficient resources to be an effective champion of the natural environment.

Rural Payments Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact problems at the Rural Payments Agency have had on other areas of the Department's expenditure; and whether all spending areas, including those non-departmental bodies within the Department's responsibilities, have received this year's funding allocation.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 11 September 2006
	Additional resources were allocated at the start of the year to maintain staffing levels at the agency and ensure that farmers receive their single payment scheme payments as soon as possible. This accounts for only one of a number of pressures DEFRA has faced this year, including avian influenza incidents, the sum of which is estimated to be in the region of £200 million.
	As a consequence of these pressures, all areas of the Department's spend have been subject to rigorous scrutiny as part of a current budget review. The review, while comprehensive in nature, is seeking to ensure that DEFRA's funding is placed where it can have the greatest impact. Ministers have agreed revised budgets for 2006-07 and business areas, including non-departmental bodies, will be informed of these decisions in the coming weeks.
	The Rural Payments Agency's difficulties are by no means the sole reason for undertaking this budget review but only one component. It is sensible for all Government Departments to review spending on a regular basis to ensure that taxpayers' money is being used in the most effective way.

Trees

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the percentage tree cover in each EU member state was on the latest date for which figures are available.

Barry Gardiner: Based on a 2005 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, forest as a percentage of land area is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Country  Forest as percentage of land cover 
			 Austria 47 
			 Belgium 22 
			 Cyprus 19 
			 Czech Republic 34 
			 Denmark 12 
			 Estonia 54 
			 Finland 74 
			 France 28 
			 Germany 32 
			 Greece 29 
			 Hungary 21 
			 Ireland 10 
			 Italy 34 
			 Latvia 47 
			 Lithuania 33 
			 Luxembourg 34 
			 Malta 1 
			 Netherlands 11 
			 Poland 30 
			 Portugal 41 
			 Slovakia 40 
			 Slovenia 63 
			 Spain 36 
			 Sweden 67 
			 United Kingdom 12

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

EU Legislative Proposals

Graham Brady: To ask the Leader of the House what mechanisms he proposes to put in place for the House to review and comment on EU legislative proposals.

Jack Straw: Possible reform of the system for scrutiny by the House of Commons of European legislative proposals and other documents, including the Government's response to the report of the Modernisation Committee last year on this subject, remains under review. I will be discussing these matters with, among others, the European Scrutiny Committee.
	I would be happy to meet with the hon. Member to discuss the matter.

PRIME MINISTER

Intelligence and Security Committee

Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2006,  Official Report, column 865W, on the Intelligence and Security Committee, how the challenge function within the assessments staff has been strengthened.

Tony Blair: The challenge function within the assessments staff has been strengthened through the creation of a dedicated challenge team, which, inter alia, assists in testing alternative hypotheses, and reviewing past judgments.

Travel Restrictions (Russia)

Graham Brady: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received regarding restrictions on travel to Russia placed on William Browder, Chief Executive of Hermitage Capital Management (UK) Ltd. by the Russian Government; and whether he raised this case in his meetings with President Putin during the recent G8 summit.

Tony Blair: I have received a number of representations regarding Mr. Browder's case. We have raised it on a number of occasions with members of the Russian Government. It is not the practice of the Government to make public details of all discussions with foreign Governments.

SCOTLAND

New Deal

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people not in education or employment or training have participated in the new deal in each year from 2001; and how many of these have subsequently gained employment.

David Cairns: This information is in the public domain and is available from the DWP website at:
	http://193.115.152.21/new_deals/ndyp/live/tabtool.html

TRANSPORT

A27

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for significant improvements to the A27 in West Sussex.

Stephen Ladyman: Proposals for improvements to the A27 Chichester are being developed for Worthing and Arundel. At Chichester and Worthing these are part of a package of transport measures developed together with West Sussex county council. These schemes have not been prioritised by the region for start before 2011; the region is expected to report back later in the year on priorities for transport schemes to be delivered in the period 2011-16, and we will take a view then.

Aviation

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely overall change in cost to the British Aviation Industry as a result of increased charges by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Gillian Merron: The Commission Regulation setting out the European Aviation Safety Agency's charges was amended in late May 2006 as part of a package of emergency measures to meet a predicted shortfall in the Agency's 2006 budget. Other measures included a substantial increase in funding from the European Community budget and savings in Agency expenditure.
	Increases in tariffs were limited to the very largest manufacturers in the Community. At the same time some fees for small enterprises were reduced and procedural changes made which eased the administrative burdens on all industry.
	Given the varying effects of these changes and their emergency and temporary nature no estimate has been made of the overall effect on costs to the UK industry. A few of the largest manufacturers will be subject to the increased tariffs, but the overall package of measures has ensured that the Agency is now able to meet the current certification needs of UK industry as a whole without costly delay.
	The Agency has taken steps to put future budgeting on a firmer footing, including the identification of long term amendments to its fee structure to be put in place next year. The UK Civil Aviation Authority has seconded an expert to support the Agency's work in this area.

Bembridge Harbour

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the audited accounts from the Bembridge Harbour Improvement Company for each of the last 10 financial years were received by his Department in accordance with the Bembridge Harbour Acts.

Stephen Ladyman: The audited annual accounts for the year ending 31 March 2005 for the Bembridge Harbour Improvement Company were received on 25 August 2006. The Department has no record of receipt of accounts from Bembridge in the previous nine years.

Bus Regulations

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) scope and  (b) timetable is for the review of bus regulations being undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: As announced to the Transport Select Committee on 28 June, I am taking a long, hard look at bus policy with the aim of taking decisions in the autumn on whether or not changes need to be made. I am looking at a whole range of issues surrounding bus services, discussing them with stakeholders and will be considering any recommendations from the Committee.

Carbon Emissions

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Department's working assumption is of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from a passenger mile for  (a) trains and  (b) cars.

Tom Harris: The Department estimates that, based on average passenger loadings, a typical car emits 114 grammes of carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre and a typical train 49 grammes of carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre. The Department keeps both sets of figures under review to take account of changes to the car and train fleet and average passenger loadings.

Concessionary Fares

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on the provision of concessionary bus passes for people aged over 60.

Gillian Merron: Currently, persons aged 60 and over and disabled people are entitled to free off-peak bus travel within their local authority area. Local authorities can at their discretion offer enhancements to the statutory minimum entitlement, such as peak bus travel, concessions on other modes, and travel into neighbouring authorities. The entitlement will be extended from April 2008 to allow eligible people to travel off-peak on any local bus service in the country for free.

Galileo Satellite Project

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the UK not making the next payment due in relation to the Galileo Satellite Project;
	(2)  how much is required by 24 August from the UK Government to meet their commitment in relation to the Galileo Satellite Project;
	(3)  how much the UK has spent on its stake in the Galileo Satellite Project;
	(4)  what plans he has to make the payments necessary to fulfil the UK's commitment to the Galileo Satellite Project by 24 August;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the implications for the UK's stake in the Galileo Satellite Project if the further payments of funding are  (a) made and  (b) not made.

Stephen Ladyman: Member states of the European Space Agency were invited earlier this year to provide further funding to meet the increased requirements of the development phase of the Galileo satellite navigation programme. Ministers have considered collectively the issue of making a further subscription to the Agency for Galileo. Following this my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry asked his officials to inform the Agency that the UK would be contributing an additional €31 million. This decision was notified to the Agency within the agreed subscription period that expired on 24 August. Previous contributions from the UK to the Agency for this programme have been €15.3 million (at 1998 prices) for the definition phase and €95.7 million (at 2001 prices) towards the development and validation phase.

Marine Environment

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many enforcement actions there were related to Coastguard and other agencies' marine protection powers in each of the last five years; and how many  (a) prosecutions were brought and  (b) convictions were obtained in each year.

Stephen Ladyman: Figures recorded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are as follows:
	
		
			   Investigations  Prosecutions  Convictions 
			 2001 3 0 0 
			 2002 15 2 2 
			 2003 7 1 1 
			 2004 8 1 1 
			 2005 3 4 4 
		
	
	It should be noted that these figures relate to pollution from ships into the sea. They do not relate to pollution into harbour authority areas, for which harbour authorities keep separate records. They also do not relate to pollution from land into the sea for which the Environment Agency keeps records.

Rail Infrastructure

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effects of climate change on rail infrastructure.

Stephen Ladyman: In 2004, the Department for Transport commissioned a study into the impact of climate change across all transport modes(1) including rail. This work was informed by a climate adaptation study sponsored by the Rail Safety and Standards Board in 2003(2). More recently, DEFRA published a case study considering the potential impact of climate change on the rail sector(3).
	In addition to these studies, the Department maintains a close dialogue with Network Rail and other rail industry stakeholders in order to develop a better understanding of climate change risks and mitigation opportunities.
	The Department will use this work and other climate change research to inform the development of its long term rail strategy, which will be published in summer 2007.
	(1) The Changing Climate: Impact on the Department for Transport
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_science/documents/pdf/dft_science_pdf_027568.pdf
	(2) Safety implications of weather, climate and climate change
	http://www.rssb.co.uk/pdf/reports/research/safety%20 implications%20of%20weather.%20climate%20and%20 climate %20change.pdf
	(3) Railway Industry Case Study
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/Proiect_Data/Document Library/GA01074/GA01074_3511_ABS.pdf

Sheffield Airport

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to secure the future of Sheffield airport; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the environmental impact on South Yorkshire of the development of Sheffield Airport.

Gillian Merron: Sheffield City airport has incurred substantial losses in the past and commercial services were stopped in August 2002, since when it has operated as a general aviation facility with facilities for commercial airlines now available at the nearby Robin Hood airport.
	Sheffield city council has received a planning application for a business park on part of the site, leaving the runway accessible to helicopters and light aircraft. The environmental impact of the development is a matter for the local authority to take into account when considering the planning application.

Speed Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed in the Essex camera enforcement office in each year since 1997; and what the annual administrative costs were in each year.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport does not hold this level of information; it may be available from Essex police.

Speed Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue speed cameras have generated in Essex in each year since 1997; and how much of that revenue has been spent in Essex.

Stephen Ladyman: The information on fines and penalties for speeding offences detected by speed cameras in Essex is available for 1999-2003 and is set out in table A which has been provided by the Home Office. I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that his Department's available information relates to the amount of fines ordered to be paid following speed offences detected by camera, not all of which may have been paid. This table shows all speeding offences in Essex including those detected outside the National Safety Camera Programme in Essex.
	Information on the total revenue from offences detected by speed camera is not collected centrally, but an estimate can be made from the number of court imposed fines and fixed penalties and is given in the table from 1997 to 2004 (latest available).
	2005 data will be available early in 2007.
	
		
			  Table A: Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras( 1)  in the Essex police force area, 1999-2003 
			   Fixed penalties  Court proceedings 
			  Offence and year  Number of tickets( 2)  Estimated revenue (£)( 3)  Number of fines  Total amount of fine (£)  Average fine( 4) 
			 1997 18,800 753,700 880 93,900 107 
			 1998 8700 346600 1700 227400 134 
			 1999 19,800 791,400 2,100 357,400 169 
			 2000 46,300 2,007,000 2,800 317,800 115 
			 2001 81,900 4,911,000 6,500 651,200 101 
			 2002 98,100 5,886,000 12,200 1,022,000 84 
			 2003 64,500 3,872,000, 7,400 687,700 93 
			 2004 65,300 3,912,000 6,700 536,900 81 
			 (1) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.  (2) Paid i.e. no further action.  (3) Estimate based on £40 fixed penalty charge to October 2000. From November 2000 the penalty was raised to £60.  (4) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court. 
		
	
	The latest available information on the amount recovered and spent in Essex to cover the costs of the Essex Safety Camera Partnership is set out in table B.
	
		
			  Table B: Amount recovered from speed and red light camera offences for Essex Safety Camera Partnership costs as part of the National Safety Camera Programme 
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2000-01 1,846,480 
			 2001-02 3,179,304 
			 2002-03 5,150,286 
			 2003-04 5,037,293 
			 2004-05 4,622,413

Terrorism

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the procedures to deal with a serious terrorist alert at London's airports were last exercised prior to August 2006.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 11 September 2006
	Most recently, the contingency plans were put in place for BAA London airports following the events of 7 July 2005. The National Aviation Security Programme requires the production, development and exercise of security contingency plans by aerodrome managers, aircraft operators and others in the aviation industry. All the London airports regularly undertake their own live and table-top exercises as well as taking part in other agencies' exercises.

Thames Gateway

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received regarding the proposed Thames Gateway bridge.

Stephen Ladyman: Ministers in the Department have received a limited number of letters from members of the public on the Thames Gateway bridge over recent months, either directly or via MPs.

Thameslink

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the bidders for the renewal of the Thameslink franchise expressed an interest in re-opening the Luton to Dunstable branch line; and why this offer was not taken up.

Gillian Merron: None of the bidders involved in last year's competition for the Thameslink/Great Northern franchise offered to invest in re-opening the Luton to Dunstable branch line.

Traffic Officer Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Traffic Officer Service was first established in the West Midlands (WM) region in April 2004.
	Two targets were set for the WM region in the 2005-06 Highways Agency business plan:
	1. For the busiest sections of motorway in the West Midlands, HA Traffic Officers will attend 75 per cent. of incidents within 15 minutes of being deployed.
	The WM service achieved 92 per cent. in 15 minutes.
	2. In the West Midlands, HA Traffic Officers will clear 75 per cent. of incidents within 30 minutes of taking full responsibility for re-opening the road to traffic.
	The WM service achieved 84 per cent.
	This experience has enabled the Highways Agency to identify a set of key performance indicators for the service. These indicators will be used to measure the activities that will contribute to delivery of the public sector agreement (PSA) target for journey reliability 2007-08 and to the delivery of the financial benefits of the service. The financial benefits derived from the introduction of the Traffic Officer Service are not due to be assessed until 2008 when the service will have been fully operational across all regions for 12 months. The Highways Agency has analysed data over a 12 month period for the West Midlands and observed a 2 per cent. reduction in incident related congestion.
	I would expect the full assessment, which will cover the impacts of introducing the Traffic Officer Service on reducing incident related congestion; improving safety; and freeing up police resources for tackling criminality on the strategic road network to be published at the end of 2008 when the data have been gathered and analysed.

Traffic Officer Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost of the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service since it was introduced.

Stephen Ladyman: The cost of the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service since it was introduced is £180,369,505.00.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments (Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) head count staff and  (b) whole-time equivalents work in (i) Brighton Royal Sussex county hospital accident and emergency department and (ii) Worthing hospital accident and emergency department; how many of these are agency staff; and what the annual budget was for staff in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not collected centrally.

Accident and Emergency Departments (Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency admissions were handled by the Royal Sussex county hospital in Brighton in each of the last five years; what increase in admissions is assumed if the Worthing accident and emergency department is downgraded; and what studies have been carried out to ensure the capacity of Brighton Royal Sussex county hospital to handle an increase in admissions.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not collected in the requested format. The following table shows the number of admissions to hospital via type one accident and emergency (A&E) for the Brighton and Sussex university hospitals NHS trust and Worthing and Southlands hospitals NHS trust for the last five years.
	
		
			   Number of admissions via type one A&E 
			   Brighton and Sussex university hospitals NHS trust  Worthing and Southlands hospitals NHS trust 
			 2005-06 17,331 14,124 
			 2004-05 16,901 13,688 
			 2003-04 15,639 12,168 
			 2002-03 17,779 11,911 
			 2001-02(1) (2)13,732 (2)7,809 
			 (1 )Prior to Q1 2002-03, Brighton and Sussex university hospitals NHS trust did not exist. Data from before this date are from the two constituent trusts of Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust and Mid Sussex NHS Trust. (2 )Admissions via A&E were first collected in Q2 2001-02, so that data for 2001-02 are for the last three quarters only.

Anti-psychotic Drug Treatments

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people over the age of 60 years were prescribed anti-psychotic drug treatments on the NHS in  (a) England and  (b) each strategic health authority in 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Information is not available in the form requested. The Department does not hold data on the number of people who are prescribed medication. However in 2005 the total number of prescriptions dispensed for anti-psychotic drugs in England as a whole was 2,352,000. The number of prescriptions dispensed to those aged 60 and over, by strategic health authority (SHA), is detailed as follows:
	
		
			  Total number of anti-psychotics prescriptions dispensed to those aged 60 and over in each SHA in England in 2005 
			  SHA  Total 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 101,000 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 63,000 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 114,000 
			 Chester and Merseyside 121,000 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 67,000 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 114,000 
			 Essex 64,000 
			 Greater Manchester 175,000 
			 Hampshire and Isle of White 85,000 
			 Kent and Medway 72,000 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 62,000 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire 85,000 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 107,000 
			 North Central London 43,000 
			 North East London 55,000 
			 North West London 58,000 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 74,000 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 70,000 
			 Somerset and Dorset 52,000 
			 South East London 54,000 
			 South West London 55,000 
			 South West Peninsula 76,000 
			 South Yorkshire 68,000 
			 Surrey and Sussex 124,000 
			 Thames Valley 86,000 
			 Trent 124,000 
			 West Midlands South 70,000 
			 West Yorkshire 113,000 
			  Note:  All figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals have been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders in  (a) England and  (b) each London borough in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested on diagnoses of autistic spectrum disorders, for England and London since 1997 is shown in the following table. Information is only available by strategic health authority area and not by London borough.
	
		
			  Diagnosis of patients for autistic spectrum disorders national health service hospitals, England 1997-98 to 2004-05 
			  Codes  Strategic Health Authority of Residence  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2000-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Q04 North West London 25 35 27 38 41 49 61 100 
			 Q05 North Central London 18 34 38 38 27 47 68 73 
			 Q06 North East London 26 36 41 33 69 74 59 100 
			 Q07 South East London 33 39 52 50 76 71 86 100 
			 Q08 South West London 43 45 44 65 56 90 74 90 
			  Total of London SHAs 145 189 202 224 269 331 348 463 
			  England 1,420 1,852 2,179 2,586 2,762 3,243 3,586 4,196 
			  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Better Healthcare Closer to Home

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will  (a) provide and  (b) authorise funding for the Better Healthcare Closer to Home programme devised by the Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust, Epsom and St. Helier NHS University Trust and other organisations.

Rosie Winterton: This is an issue for the London Strategic Health Authority (SHA).
	In August 2006 the Secretary of State wrote to the chief executive of the London SHA asking him to review the proposals for a new critical care hospital and the model of care for the area more generally, including issues of affordability.

Branded Generic Drugs

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when the results of the 2005 consultation on the reimbursement of branded generic drugs is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what her Department's policy is on the reimbursement by the NHS of branded generic medicines;
	(3)  what assessment her Department has made of the effects on the NHS of reimbursing generic medicines below the drug tariff price.

Andy Burnham: Standard branded generics are covered by the provisions of the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme, subject to the outcome of public consultations (issued in January and September 2005) on proposals to transfer them to the new arrangements for the reimbursement for generic medicines.
	Officials are currently reviewing the responses to proposals which have raised a number of complex issues. These responses require careful consideration. The Department has not determined its final conclusion on this matter and has not set any deadline that may constrain its deliberations.
	There is no assessment to be made of the effects on the national health service as prescriptions for generic medicines, if listed, are reimbursed at drug tariff prices.

Breastfeeding

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of newborn babies exclusively breastfed until six months old.

Rosie Winterton: In England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland there was a significant increase in the incidence of breastfeeding between 2000 and 2005. However, no estimate of the proportion of newborn babies exclusively breastfed up until six months old has been made up to date.
	The National Infant Feeding Survey 2005 is expected to provide information on the levels of exclusive breastfeeding up until six months old.
	The results of the survey are expected in late spring 2007.

Broomfield Hospital

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the Broomfield Hospital private finance initiative scheme to be approved; what obstacles need to be overcome before the scheme can be approved; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The proposals for the new Broomfield private finance initiative (PFI) hospital have been considered as part of the PFI review by the Department. Further work, currently being undertaken by the trust and the strategic health authority, is needed to address outstanding affordability and capacity issues. An announcement about the scheme will be made in due course.

Care Costs

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people she estimates sold their homes to pay for long-term care in 2005-06;
	(2)  what percentage of patients who received long-term care from the national health service in 2005-06 had to pay towards their care;
	(3)  what steps the Department is taking to reduce the number of patients who have to sell their homes to pay for long-term nursing care.

Rosie Winterton: National health service care, including continuing care and nursing care, is free at the point of delivery.
	Social services care is means tested, based on an individual's assets, and is provided by local councils.
	Since 2001, no one has had to sell their home in order to enter a care home as they can agree a deferred payment with their council, which is claimed back at a later date. Under this scheme, the council meets the cost of the care home place and these costs are recouped from the estate of the resident on death.
	The Department has made no estimate of the number of people who have sold their homes to pay for their own social care.

Choice Agenda

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost  (a) has been and  (b) is expected to be over the next five years of the introduction of the choice agenda in the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: In respect of choice at referral for planned care, the national audit office's report, "Patient Choice at the Point of Referral", published in January 2005, accepted our estimate of £122 million for the likely additional annual infrastructure costs and transaction costs for patient choice. The total spend on elective care in 2003-04 was £8.7 billion.
	Choice will lead to increased efficiencies in both primary and secondary care as described in the national audit office's report. In hospitals, these efficiencies should include reductions in missed appointments and cancellations, meaning clinics can be run more efficiently. The cost of these in 2003-04 was approximately £100 million for the 1.5 million missed first out-patient appointments that are most likely to be addressed by choice.
	"Health Reform in England—Update and Commissioning Framework" published in July 2006 signalled our intention to extend choice outside routine planned care. This is currently subject to an initial consultation on the overriding approach. Estimated costs are therefore not available for the next five years.

Choose and Book

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have used choose and book other than in doctors' surgeries to make appointments in secondary care.

Andy Burnham: 122,186 (83 per cent.) patient bookings were made through choose and book outside of general practitioner surgeries during June 2006. This figure excludes bookings made by local appointment lines, but includes patients booking via NHS Direct (20,271), through the internet (3,067) and into indirectly bookable services (98,848). The precise number of bookings actually made by patients themselves is not separately identifiable.

Chronic Fatigue Service

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the provision of the chronic fatigue service in Leeds and West Yorkshire; and whether the value of her Department's direct funding for the service will be maintained in real terms over the next three years.

Rosie Winterton: As at 7 September 2006, the Department had received 23 letters from Members of Parliament and 22 letters from members of the public regarding the chronic fatigue service in Leeds and West Yorkshire.
	In July 2006, strategic health authorities were given details of their share of almost £5.5 billion that had been earmarked for specific projects, including the funding of centres for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). It is the responsibility of local health bodies to ensure that services are provided to meet the needs of those living with CFS/ME.

Clostridium Difficile

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions have been reached as a result of the discussions the Department has had with local NHS trusts in Northamptonshire in the last 12 months on tackling clostridium difficile in hospitals.

Andy Burnham: The Department has highlighted to the NHS East Midlands Strategic Health Authority the need for NHS trusts and primary care trusts to implement best practice and learn the lessons of the recent Healthcare Commission report on Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust has been working with the Health Protection Agency for some time to reduce the number of cases of clostridium difficile.

Connecting for Health IT Programme

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been of the Connecting for Health IT programme.

Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 27 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 331-32W.

Consultants

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rates of pay  (a) consultant surgeons and  (b) consultant anaesthetists receive from (i) independent sector treatment centres and (ii) NHS providers; how many (A) male and (B) female consultants are employed in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: A new contract for consultants was agreed in 2003. There are around 90 per cent. of all consultants employed on those terms. Consultants working in independent treatment centres (ISTCs) on national health service terms and conditions will be paid on the same salary scale as those employed in NHS trusts. The salary scale for consultants employed on NHS terms and conditions starts at £70,822 and rises to £95,831.
	The following table shows the breakdown of consultant surgeons and consultant anaesthetists in England by gender.
	
		
			   Consultant anaesthetists  Consultant surgeons 
			 Male 3,261 5,512 
			 Female 1,241 476 
			 Total 4,502 5,988 
			  Source:  NHS Census 2005 
		
	
	Where staff are employed by ISTCs their terms and conditions are a matter for the employer and employee. We do not have any data on the arrangements agreed.

Departmental Staff

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) full-time equivalent and  (b) headcount staff were employed in (i) her Department and (ii) each of her Department's arm's length bodies in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The full-time equivalent numbers of staff employed by the Department of Health in each year since 1997, which have been taken from the Department's Annual Reports for the years 2002 to 2006, are as follows:
	
		
			   As at 31 March each year 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001 
			 Core DH 4,486 4,247 3,611 3,753 3,632 
			 NHS Pensions Agency — — 464 444 452 
			 Medicine and Healthcare product Regulatory Agency — — — — — 
			 Medical Devices Agency — 144 143 141 149 
			 Medicines Control Agency 378 413 492 490 436 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency (PASA) — — — 285 291 
			 NHS Estates 139 144 242 270 326 
			 Total 5,003 4,804 4,953 5,100 5,272 
		
	
	
		
			   As at 31 March each year 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Core DH 3,809 3,390 2,964 2,189 2,364 
			 NHS Pensions Agency 466 268 258 — — 
			 Medicine and Healthcare product Regulatory Agency — 747 781 863 — 
			 Medical Devices Agency 156 — — — — 
			 Medicines Control Agency 574 519 — — — 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency (PASA) 309 328 332 328 — 
			 NHS Estates 435 390 375 314 — 
			 Total 5,724 5,032 4,672 3,616 3,555 
		
	
	For special health authorities and non-departmental public bodies of the Department, we can only provide information from 2004-05 onwards. Obtaining the figures from earlier years would involve carrying out a collection exercise from numerous individual bodies and would incur disproportionate costs.
	
		
			   WTE 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Healthcare Commission 771 771 771 
			 Mental Health Act Commission 36 43 43 
			 Monitor 28 28 28 
			 Commission for Social Care Inspection 2,622 2,492 2,335 
			 Human Fertility and Embryology Authority 106 103 79 
			 Human Tissue Authority — 16 20 
			 Commission for Regulation of Healthcare Professionals 11 11 11 
			 General Social Care Council 262 262 234 
			 Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board 36 67 50 
			 Dental Vocational Training Authority 32 — — 
			 National Institute Clinical Excellence 230 217 226 
			 National Patients Safety Agency 238 281 281 
			 Health Protection Agency 3,144 3,287 3,268 
			 National Biological Standards Board 308 313 318 
			 National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse 88 126 132 
			 Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health 189 118 118 
			 National Blood Authority (including BPL) 5,599 6,155 6,110 
			 UK Transplant (merger into NHSBT) 121 — — 
			 NHS Litigation Authority 166 155 155 
			 NHS Appointments Commission 51 58 57 
			 Health and Social Care Information Centre 366 366 366 
			 Dental Practice Board (See below part of British Service Authority (BSA)) — — — 
			 Prescription Pricing Authority (See following part of BSA) — — — 
			 NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (See following part of BSA) — — — 
			 NHS Pensions Agency(See following part of BSA) — — — 
			 Business Services Authority 2580 3,084 2,082 
			 NHS Logistics 1,462 1,462 — 
			 NHS Direct 3,461 3,461 — 
			 NHS Professionals 807 742 871 
			 NHS Institute for Learning, Skills and Innovation 170 170 170 
			 National Programme for IT/Connecting for Health 786 605 605 
			 Total 23,641 24,393 18,330

Emergency Readmissions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to question 90302, what assessment she has made of the reasons behind the trend in the rate of 28-day emergency readmissions since quarter one of 2002-03.

Rosie Winterton: Patients may be readmitted within 28 days of a previous admission for a wide variety of reasons unconnected with that earlier episode of care. Preliminary analysis suggests that the rise in readmissions is not confined to particular specialities. The Department has commissioned the National Centre for Health Outcomes Development to analyse the data further to see what conclusions can be drawn.

Event Monitor Hypoxia Study

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that medical information stored in special case files held by Professor David Southall as part of the NHS-funded research relating to the Event Monitor Hypoxia Study and continuous negative extrathoracic pressure is copied into the patients' NHS medical files; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Decisions about disclosure of medical information to clinicians for incorporation within medical records are the responsibility of the individuals to whom the findings relate. Researchers owe these individuals a duty of confidentiality. They are expected to clarify (either in advance, or where practicable, through subsequent contact with affected research participants) whether the individuals consent to the disclosure of the relevant information.

Funding (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much capital funding has been received by Warrington hospital in each year since 1997; and which projects have been funded as a result.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Funding (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much health funding has been spent in Warrington per head of population in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested. However, expenditure per head for Warrington primary care trust is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Warrington primary care trust 
			   Expenditure per head (£) 
			 2002-03 815.42 
			 2003-04 986.72 
			 2004-05 1,056.59 
			  Notes: 1. Warrington primary care trust did not come into existence until 1 April 2002. Figures cannot be provided prior to this date as Warrington was not a specific area for accounts data. 2. Expenditure on general dental services and pharmaceutical services accounted for by the Dental Practice Board and Prescription Pricing Authority, respectively, are excluded. This expenditure cannot be included within the figures for the individual health bodies as they are not included in commissioner accounts.  Sources: 1. Audited summarisation schedules of Warrington Primary Care Trusts 2002-03 to 2004-05. 2. Population figures.

Gloucestershire Partnership Trust

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions she has had with the strategic health authority responsible for the Gloucestershire Partnership Trust on the financial situation of that trust; whether merger with another body has been considered; and how the impact of changes to the current administrative arrangements will be measured.

Rosie Winterton: Discussions about finance form part of the routine activity between the Department and the strategic health authorities (SHAs) on an ongoing basis.
	It is the responsibility of SHAs to deliver both overall financial balance for their local health communities and to ensure each and every organisation achieves financial balance. From 2006-07, SHAs have the responsibility to develop and implement a service and financial strategy for managing the financial position within their locality. They will develop this with primary care trusts and national health service trusts in their area.
	It is for local trusts to determine the appropriate pattern of local services, including reconfiguration of services within the available resources. NHS South West SHA has advised that mergers have been considered but are not deemed appropriate at this stage.

GovNet Expo 2006

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is to the NHS of supporting GovNet Expo 2006.

Rosie Winterton: GovNet Expo is organised by GovNet Events, part of GovNet Communications, a commercial media, conference and publications company, which is not funded by Government. Attendance at this event is free to the public sector, so costs will be limited to travel and expenses. The Department however, does not monitor these costs for individual national health service organisations.

Health Inequalities

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which each spearhead area is on track to meet the 2010 health inequalities target; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The 2010 health inequalities target is based on the performance of the spearhead areas as a whole. The extent to which each individual spearhead area is on track to narrow their local life expectancy gap with England by 10 per cent. by 2010 is shown in the following list. While the national trend is for a continuing widening in the life expectancy gap between spearhead areas and England, the table shows that some 19 per cent. of spearhead areas are on track for males and females with a further 41 per cent. on track for either males or females.
	Current activity to support achievement of the target includes improving our understanding of the key interventions to improve life expectancy in spearhead areas. Fast gains in life expectancy can be made by reducing the prevalence of smoking, effective control of blood pressure and cholesterol, and good care of people with long-term conditions such as diabetes. Improving performance management is also important and we have made health inequalities one of the Department's top six priorities for the national health service, and it will be a mandatory target within local area agreements.
	We are also looking to spread best practice across all spearhead areas, and provide support for those areas that need it.
	 Assessment of spearhead area progress (70 local authority areas) against narrowing the local life expectancy gap with England( 1)
	 On track for both male and female life expectancy (13 areas)
	Hackney
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Lambeth
	Southwark
	Tower Hamlets
	St. Helens
	Coventry
	Stockton-on-Tees
	Warrington
	Carlisle
	Derwentside
	Hyndburn
	Nuneaton and Bedworth
	 On track for female life expectancy only (14 areas)
	Greenwich
	Haringey
	Bury
	Rochdale
	Tameside
	Barnsley
	Doncaster
	Gateshead
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	Birmingham
	Wolverhampton
	Redcar and Cleveland
	Rossendale
	Blyth Valley
	 On track for male life expectancy only (15 areas)
	Lewisham
	Newham
	Manchester
	Knowsley
	Wirral
	Walsall
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Chester-le-Street
	Sedgefield
	Wear Valley
	Preston
	Lincoln
	Corby
	Wansbeck
	Tamworth
	 Off track for male and female life expectancy (28 areas)
	Barking and Dagenham
	Islington
	Bolton
	Oldham
	Salford
	Wigan
	Liverpool
	Rotherham
	North Tyneside
	South Tyneside
	Sunderland
	Sandwell
	Bradford
	Wakefield
	Hartlepool
	Middlesbrough
	Halton
	Blackpool
	Kingston upon Hull, City of
	North East Lincolnshire
	Leicester
	Nottingham
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Barrow-in-Furness
	Bolsover
	Easington
	Burnley
	Pendle
	(1) The assessment is based on modelling a reduction of 10 per cent. in the gap with England for each spearhead area on the assumption that overall public service agreement life expectancy target for England to increase life expectancy at birth to 78.6 years for men, and to 82.5 years for women is reached. Confidence limits on the data mean that there will be a degree of uncertainty in the assessments—the assessment is based on the mid-point of the confidence interval of life expectancy for the spearhead areas.

Health Services (Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from managers of the South East Coast strategic health authority and the West Sussex primary care trust regarding effects of the funding formula on health funding in Sussex.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State has received no direct representations from managers at NHS South East Coast and Western Sussex primary care trust (PCT) regarding the effects of the funding formula on health funding in Sussex.
	Revenue allocations are made to PCTs on the basis of a fair funding formula that directs funding to those areas of greatest need. To ensure equity in resource allocation, the development of the formula is kept under continuous review by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation.

Health Services (Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press and publicity officers are employed within the South East Coast strategic health authority; and at what cost.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Health Services (Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements in health services in Sussex are being considered as part of Fit for the Future.

Rosie Winterton: The former Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority, now part of NHS South East Coast, is responsible for the "Creating an NHS Fit for the Future" programme. The NHS South East Coast reports that it is envisaged that patients in Sussex will benefit from having access to a clinically and financially sustainable health system which makes the best use of its resources to improve the health of the population and provide quicker and more convenient care closer to, or inside, peoples homes.

Health Services (Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has undertaken on journey times between Worthing hospital and the Royal Sussex county hospital in Brighton; and what projections have been made for  (a) five and  (b) 10 years' time taking account of likely traffic growth.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect this information centrally. This is a matter for the local national health service.

Health Trusts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes in  (a) job numbers,  (b) services and  (c) beds each primary care and health trust has made in response to this year's financial position; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The Department does not hold the information requested centrally.

Hospital Food

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on hospital food and nutrition in each NHS trust in England in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: Information on the amount spent on provisions has been placed in the Library. Information is not collected on how much is spent on nutrition.
	The provisions data has been provided by national health service organisations to the Department of Health and has not been amended centrally. The completeness and accuracy of this data is the responsibility of the provider organisation.
	Up to 2003-04, provisions data were collected on a compulsory basis. From 2004-05 onwards, such data were was provided voluntarily as part of a benchmarking exercise and therefore may be incomplete.

Hospital Food

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was allocated to  (a) the better hospital food programme and  (b) the Eating Well in Hospitals scheme in each year since their inception; and if she will make a statement on her plans for each scheme;
	(2)  how much has been spent by central Government on improving hospital nutrition in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: Information is not available in the exact format requested.
	Between 2000 and 2005, around £34.5 million was spent on the better hospital food programme. This includes funding distributed directly to trusts, central initiatives such as the development of the menu planner and recipe book, and administrative costs for running the better hospital food panel.
	"Eating Well in Hospital" refers to a broad group of activities undertaken by a range of organisations, not to a specific Department of Health or national health service programme. There is no specific funding.
	The better hospital food programme closed in April 2006. It set an excellent foundation and resulted in measurable improvements in the quality and availability of hospital food. Taking this work forward is now a matter for local determination.

Hospital Food

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of people  (a) admitted to and  (b) discharged from hospital were malnourished in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by (i) age and (ii) strategic health authority.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested has been placed in the Library. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year. Information on whether a patient was suffering from malnutrition when discharged from hospital is not held centrally.

Hospital Food

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were  (a) admitted with malnutrition and  (b) treated for malnutrition after admission in London hospitals in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the form requested. However, the table shows the number of people admitted to hospitals within London strategic health authorities with malnutrition for the years 2000-01 to 2004-05.
	
		
			  Data year  Number of people 
			 2004-05 33 
			 2003-04 38 
			 2002-03 42 
			 2001-02 45 
			 2000-01 37

Hospital Food

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people suffering from malnutrition when they were  (a) admitted to and  (b) discharged from hospital spent (i) up to a week, (ii) between a week and a month, (iii) between one month and three months and (iv) more than three months in hospital in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the percentage of people suffering from malnutrition when they are  (a) admitted to and  (b) discharged from hospital who receive regular visits from friends or family throughout their stay.

Rosie Winterton: Information on whether a patient was suffering from malnutrition when discharged from hospital is not held centrally. Information on the number of people admitted to hospital due to malnutrition in 2004-05, broken down by length of stay, is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Counts of in-year discharge episodes and counts of individual patients, Primary diagnosis = malnutrition, NHS hospitals in England, 2004-05 
			   In-year discharge 
			  Length of stay group  Episodes  Patients 
			 Up to 1 week 100 75 
			 1 to less than 4 weeks 98 98 
			 4 weeks to less than 3 months 57 57 
			 3 months to less than 1 year 5 5 
			 Total 260 235 
			  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre. 
		
	
	Information on whether a patient received regular visits from friends or family throughout their stay in hospital is not held centrally.

Hunter's Syndrome

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Elaprase is available for the treatment of Hunter's syndrome in the NHS.

Andy Burnham: Elapase is not yet licensed in the United Kingdom for the treatment of Hunter's syndrome.
	As with any unlicensed drug, it is down to individual clinicians to decide whether to prescribe it for an individual patient. The clinician makes these decisions after discussions with patients about the potential risks and taking into account their medical history.
	The clinician's decision does, however, need to be supported by the primary care trust which will be responsible for paying for the drug.

Independent Service Providers

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the NHS budget was paid to independent providers of  (a) care and  (b) support services in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of its budget the NHS expects to pay to independent providers of each kind of service in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2009.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not available centrally.
	Annual financial returns of national health service bodies provide the Department with total expenditure on services provided by all non-NHS bodies, including local authorities, other statutory bodies, the independent sector and overseas, and cannot be disaggregated.

Independent Treatment Centres

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS hospitals will have hosted independent treatment centres by December 2006;
	(2)  what the average cost to an NHS Trust of hosting one independent treatment centre was in the last period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently 14 open independent sector treatment centre facilities sited on national health service property with a further three facilities planned before December 2006. In addition one facility sited on NHS property has completed its contract.
	Arrangements are agreed locally but no 'hosting' costs should be incurred by the NHS body. The provider may pay the NHS rent for the use of the land or facility or for the provision of any services such as maintenance, cleaning, security etc.

Infant Health Services

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of whether Enfield primary care trust's decision to end routine developmental assessments of babies is consistent with the Every Child Matters national agenda.

Rosie Winterton: NHS London has confirmed that Enfield primary care trust is not stopping developmental checks. The two year check has been suspended for six months while NHS London puts in place changes to children's services. These changes will include merging teams of health professionals. Parents can continue to visit local baby clinics and contact their health visiting team to seek advice.

Influenza Pandemic

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her letter to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire dated 27 July 2006, reference PO00000120687, whether she plans to procure centrally the disposable respirator EN149:2001 FFP3 and stockpile it for use by healthcare workers in the event of an influenza pandemic; and what research she expects to conduct with the 3.5 million doses of A/H5N1 vaccine.

Rosie Winterton: We recommend that those healthcare workers performing procedures that have the potential to generate aerosols should wear FFP3 respirators. We are currently considering whether we should centrally procure and stockpile FFP3 respirators and a decision will be reached as soon as possible.
	The H5N1 vaccine has also been offered free-of-charge to any research group which has been funded by the medical research council to study H5N1 vaccine, and we keep under review what further research may be necessary with this vaccine.

Influenza Pandemic

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions  (a) she and  (b) her officials have held with the United Kingdom Vaccines Industry Group since 1 July 2006 regarding the production capacity of manufacturers for this year's winter influenza season following their switch to the X-161B strain; what the content of these discussions was; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The United Kingdom Vaccine Industry Group has notified the Department that the new reassortant strain for production of the H3N2 strain recommended by the EU regulatory authorities has demonstrated an improvement in vaccine yield. This has resulted in over 15 million doses of flu vaccine becoming available for distribution in the UK.

Irlen Syndrome

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school children are estimated to suffer from Irlen Syndrome; and what progress is being made in encouraging its early diagnosis.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect the requested data.
	If a parent or child experiences symptoms associated with descriptions of Mears Irlen Syndrome they should discuss the problem with the child's school and consult an optometrist to ensure that the possibility of refractive error or eye disease is not overlooked. If after a sight test (and glasses if necessary) a child is still experiencing difficulties, then a wider assessment is called for. This is something that local education and health authorities should take forward in view of their responsibilities for services in their areas.

Kerr/Haslam Inquiry

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2006,  Official Report, column 672W, on William Kerr/Michael Haslam, when she expects to publish the recommendations from the Kerr/Haslam Inquiry which are not directly affected by the consultation on the review of medical and non-medical regulation; and which of those recommendations are being implemented.

Andy Burnham: As I said in the earlier reply on 20 July 2006,  Official Report, column 672W, there are close similarities between the issues raised by the Kerr/Haslam Inquiry, the Ayling and Neale Inquiries, and the fifth report of the Shipman Inquiry. We therefore think it would be more helpful to the national health service, and would better serve to protect patients, to publish a joint response to all four reports with a single integrated programme of action to take forward the measures needed. We will not be publishing a separate formal response to the individual inquiries or to individual recommendations from them. Preparatory work is under way on many of the individual recommendations and will be reflected in due course in the formal response.

Local Area Agreements

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress she has made towards encouraging primary care trusts and local authorities to consider the potential for local area agreements to facilitate joint public engagement on health and social care; and how she expects these local area agreements to work.

Rosie Winterton: The role of primary care trusts (PCTs) to work with the local authority and other local partners to develop and deliver the local area agreement (LAA) for their area has been set out in successive government guidance on national health service local delivery plans and LAAs and in correspondence to strategic health authorities. LAAs have great potential to deliver improvements in health and social care outcomes, as set out in the "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say" White Paper. Both health and social care outcomes are well represented within the 87 LAAs so far agreed by the Government.
	The recent first annual reviews of the pilot LAAs showed strong performance across a number of health and social care priorities.
	LAAs have proved an important catalyst for improved partnership working. Many of the pilot areas reported a step change in effective partnership and cross-agency planning and working, particularly between the PCT and the local authority in the way services are commissioned—this has contributed to strong performance in outcomes for older people.
	LAAs have also encouraged creativity and innovation by focussing on outcomes, increasing capacity through partnership and joint accountability.

Local Health Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further consideration she has given to the options for a community call for action and the use of petitions as a lever for improvements in local services, as set out in the White Paper "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say".

Rosie Winterton: "Health Reform in England: Update and Commissioning Framework" was published in July 2006, and a copy is available in the Library.
	In the annex to this document, the commissioning framework, there are further proposals concerning the use of petitions by members of the community to call for action by primary care trusts. These proposals are subject to a consultation process which is due to close on 6 October 2006. Plans will be finalised, and further guidance will be issued, following the conclusion of this consultation.

Maternity Units

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) consultant led and  (b) midwife led maternity units are being considered for closure.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally. Decisions on local health care provision, including maternity services, is a matter for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities in consultation with the local population.

Medical Research

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that patients and guardians are given a right of access to research protocols for medical research in which they are involved.

Andy Burnham: Potential research participants have to make a considered choice whether to consent to participate in research. They should receive the information they need in order to weigh up the risks and benefits. Research ethics committees review carefully whether the information is adequate. It is normally presented as an information sheet summarizing the research project, with details of how potential participants can request further information if they wish. They may ask for the research protocol.
	Research protocols held by public authorities would normally be disclosed on request. Some parts of research protocols may be confidential.

Medical/Dental Staff

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS  (a) GPs and  (b) dentists there are in (i) absolute terms and (ii) per 1,000 population in (A) rural areas and (B) non-rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The following table sets out the number of general practitioners and dentists in absolute terms and per 1,000 of the population, in England, by primary care trust type according to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs classification.
	
		
			   All general medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)( 1)  as at 30 September 2005  General dental services and personal dental services dentists( 2,3,4)  as at 31 March 2006 
			  PCT type( 5)  Number  Number per 1,000 of the population( 6)  Number  Number per 1,000 of the population( 6) 
			 Major urban 11,278 0.65 9,332 0.54 
			 Large urban 4,782 0.65 3,695 0.50 
			 Other urban 3,986 0.63 3,400 0.54 
			 Significant rural 4,165 0.63 3,182 0.49 
			 Rural-50 5,770 0.68 3,881 0.46 
			 Rural-80 2,757 0.69 1,779 0.45 
			 Total for England 32,738 0.65 21,111 0.42 
			 (1) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, general medical services others and personal medical services others. (2) The data has been summed from PCT results to obtain the split for each classification group. Some dentists may have an open GDS or PDS contract in more than one PCT and will therefore have been counted more than once. The total number of dentists given for England does not include duplication. (3) The postcode of the dental practice was used to allocate dentists to PCTs. (4) A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the PCT. Information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists is not centrally available. (5) This uses the Defra classification of PCTs developed by the Rural Evidence Research Centre at Birkbeck College. GP and dentist figures have been assigned at PCT level. The Birkbeck College classifications are as follows: Major urban: districts with either 100,000 people or 50 per cent. of their population in urban areas with a population of more than 750,000. Large urban: districts with either 50,000 people or 50 per cent. of their population in one of 17 urban areas with a population between 250,000 and 750,000. Other urban: districts with fewer than 37,000 people or less than 26 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns. Significant rural: districts with more than 37,000 people or more than 26 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns. Rural-50: districts with at least 50 per cent. but less than 80 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns. Rural-80: districts with at least 80 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns. (6) Based on ONS mid-year 2004 population figures. Data for 2005 is not yet available and these figures are therefore subject to change.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care; NHS Business Services Authority; Office for National Statistics; DEFRA. 
		
	
	As at September 2005, there were 32,738 GPs (excluding retainers and registrars). This is an increase of 4,692 or 17 per cent, since 1997.

Medical/Dental Students

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) medical and  (b) dental students enrolled in each admitting institution in each year since 1997; how many staff were employed expressed (i) as a number of posts and (ii) as full-time equivalents; and what the staff to student ratio was in each year.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The available figures are given in the tables. The figures include enrolments and staff at those English higher education institutions which offer medicine and dentistry courses. The Department does not calculate student staff ratios for individual higher education institutions or subjects. The available data do not allow us to identify, and exclude from the calculation, the amount of time staff spend teaching further education (as opposed to higher education) courses, and the number of students who are taught at other institutions under franchising arrangements. These factors have to be excluded from the calculation in order to produce an SSR purely for higher education provision in higher education institutions. We are therefore unable to produce individual HEI SSRs which are accurate and comparable across all institutions. An SSR for all HE institutions in England as a whole, which excludes time spent on FE teaching and students taught via franchising, is published annually by the Department. In 2004-05, the staff student ratio for English institutions as a whole (excluding the Open University) was 18.2.
	
		
			  Enrolments to 'Medicine' and 'Dentistry' at English HE Institutions with Medical Schools. 1997-98 to 2004-05 
			Change in methodology 
			  Institution  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Total Medicine and Dentistry 29,635 30,300 30,460 31,875 33,305 35,035 37,820 40,100 
			 Total of which Medicine: 25,650 25,855 25,915 26,795 27,930 30,390 33,045 35,035 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 2,215 2,295 1,855 1,690 1,585 2,885 2,955 3,040 
			 Kings College London(1) 1.070 2.940 2,835 3,095 2,955 2,915 3,055 3.135 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 1.500 1.510 1.635 1,595 1,710 1,730 1,825 1,975 
			 Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine(2) 730 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 St. George's Hospital Medical School 1,090 1,090 1.000 1,120 1,175 1,245 1,305 1,390 
			 United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas's(1) 1,715 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 University College London(2) 2,090 2,700 2,625 2,630 2,835 2,770 2,755 2,725 
			 University of Birmingham 1,225 1,230 1,295 1,380 1,550 1,605 1,880 2,060 
			 University of Brighton/University of Sussex 15 20 25 25 100 110 310 525 
			 University of Bristol 945 905 855 935 1,030 1,080 1,175 1,270 
			 University of Cambridge 1,355 1,415 1,415 1,455 1,525 1,560 1,615 1,665 
			 University of East Anglia 0 0 0 0 0 110 215 345 
			 University of Exeter/University of Plymouth 30 50 50 45 55 195 365 490 
			 University of Hull/University of York 15 20 20 25 20 35 170 340 
			 University of Leeds 1,515 1,635 1,620 1,610 1,670 1,730 1,855 1,630 
			 University of Leicester/University of Warwick 1,000 1,060 1,105 1,210 1,345 1,500 1,720 1,850 
			 University of Liverpool 1,505 1,625 1,850 1,920 1,820 1,625 1,695 1,810 
			 University of Manchester/University of Keele 1,965 2,015 2,015 2,140 2,275 2,550 2,755 3,005 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne/University of Durham 1,265 1,320 1,365 1,390 1,535 1,695 1,910 2,045 
			 University of Nottingham 1,350 1,380 1,400 1,505 1,590 1,665 1,735 1,880 
			 University of Oxford 865 850 695 720 785 1,980 1,190 1,285 
			 University of Sheffield 1,325 1,370 1,340 1,315 1,345 1,305 1,335 1,320 
			 University of Southampton 870 415 910 990 1,025 1,100 1,225 1,250 
			 Total of which Dentistry: 3,990 3,965 3,955 4,200 4,190 4,480 4,675 4,790 
			 Kings College London 340 900 900 895 915 855 860 875 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 345 335 350 355 390 375 395 420 
			 United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas's 575 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 University College London 225 255 275 340 410 420 430 320 
			 The University of Birmingham 350 355 355 350 385 390 395 410 
			 The University of Bristol 300 305 300 295 290 545 635 670 
			 University of Leeds 330 325 330 320 340 355 375 395 
			 The University of Liverpool 325 345 330 505 335 340 345 385 
			 University of Manchester/University of Keele 460 405 395 420 385 415 455 485 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne/University of Durham 395 395 390 390 410 430 425 435 
			 The University of Sheffield 340 345 335 330 335 355 360 395 
			 Total of which Others within Medicine and Dentistry (2002-03 onwards): ? ? ? ? ? 165 100 270 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College ? ? ? ? ? 15 15 15 
			 University of Birmingham ? ? ? ? ? (3)? 0 25 
			 University of Leeds ? ? ? ? ? 0 0 65 
			 University of Liverpool ? ? ? ? ? 110 45 (3)? 
			 University of Manchester/University of Keele ? ? ? ? ? 40 35 50 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne/University of Durham ? ? ? ? ? 0 0 110 
			 University of Southampton ? ? ? ? ? 0 5 5 
			 Total of which Combinations within Medicine and Dentistry: 0 480 595 875 1,185 0 0 0 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 0 0 595 875 1,185 0 0 0 
			 University of Southampton 0 480 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas's merged with Kings College London in 1998-99. (2) Royal Free Hospital Medical School merged with University College London in 1998-99. (3 )Number greater than zero but less than 3.  Note: Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December (excluding those writing up, on sabbatical and dormant).  Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. In 2002-03, a new method of recording subject of study was introduced. As such, figures for 2002-03 onwards are not directly comparable to figures for 2001-02.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. 
		
	
	
		
			  Staff within the cost centres of 'Clinical Medicine' and 'Clinical Dentistry' at English HE Institutions with Medical Schools. 1997-98 to 2004-05, Staff whose employment function is 'Teaching only' or 'Teaching and Research' 
			   Headcount 
			 Change in methodology 
			  HE institution  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			  Clinical medicine 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 620 575 640 615 495 495 470 465 
			 Kings College London(1,2) 355 610 560 530 515 490 440 410 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 375 355 335 330 310 300 235 230 
			 Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine(3) 115 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 St. George's Hospital Medical School 255 235 245 195 270 350 155 190 
			 United Medical and Dental Schools Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital(1) 305 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 University College London(3) 510 635 705 725 710 655 605 660 
			 University of Birmingham 300 235 235 240 235 235 215 225 
			 University of Brighton/University of Sussex 0 0 0 0 (4)? 5 15 40 
			 University of Bristol 190 210 200 210 210 210 205 165 
			 University of Cambridge 150 160 150 155 160 170 170 170 
			 University of East Anglia 0 0 0 5 10 25 15 55 
			 University of Exeter/University of Plymouth 20 75 85 100 110 130 135 135 
			 University of Hull/University of York 40 40 40 45 60 65 70 60 
			 University of Leeds 205 195 195 190 190 185 165 160 
			 University of Leicester/University of Warwick 175 180 180 180 190 200 200 185 
			 University of Liverpool 200 205 210 200 200 210 190 195 
			 University of Manchester/University of Keele 500 445 405 415 400 425 390 365 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 365 270 270 290 260 265 270 260 
			 University of Nottingham 230 215 215 215 200 210 265 270 
			 University of Oxford 135 140 135 145 145 150 125 120 
			 University of Sheffield 205 220 235 245 240 245 230 225 
			 University of Southampton 125 130 125 130 135 135 125 120 
			 Total 5,380 5,110 5,170 5,160 5,050 5,160 4,700 4,715 
			  
			  Clinical dentistry 
			 Kings College London(1,2) 60 150 145 140 130 120 215 210 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 80 70 70 75 60 60 75 75 
			 United Medical and Dental Schools Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital(1) 85 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 University College London(3) 60 95 75 70 65 65 60 60 
			 University of Birmingham 35 40 45 45 40 40 70 75 
			 University of Bristol 35 35 40 40 40 40 50 40 
			 University of Leeds 50 50 45 50 50 50 40 45 
			 University of Liverpool 40 40 40 45 45 40 65 60 
			 University of Manchester/University of Keele 80 65 60 60 55 55 65 65 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 40 40 40 40 45 45 35 35 
			 University of Sheffield 40 40 40 40 45 40 40 40 
			 Total 605 625 605 605 575 560 725 705 
		
	
	
		
			   Full time equivalent 
			 Change in methodology 
			  HE institution  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			  Clinical medicine 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 560 515 535 505 440 435 445 440 
			 Kings College London(1,2) 310 545 505 485 430 420 410 375 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 240 280 255 240 255 235 205 200 
			 Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine(3) 110 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 St George's Hospital Medical School 195 185 190 155 185 225 130 165 
			 United Medical and Dental Schools Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital(1) 275 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 University College London(3) 420 545 590 615 535 575 565 615 
			 University of Birmingham 245 205 205 200 205 200 200 205 
			 University of Brighton/University of Sussex 0 0 0 0 (4)? 5 15 20 
			 University of Bristol 170 180 175 175 185 185 185 145 
			 University of Cambridge 135 145 140 145 145 155 160 165 
			 University of East Anglia 0 0 0 (4)? 10 15 15 45 
			 University of Exeter/University of Plymouth 15 40 55 60 70 80 85 90 
			 University of Hull/University of York 25 30 35 40 50 55 60 55 
			 University of Leeds 175 165 170 160 160 160 155 150 
			 University of Leicester/University of Warwick 150 165 160 155 155 160 180 170 
			 University of Liverpool 170 170 175 165 170 180 175 180 
			 University of Manchester/University of Keele 340 320 310 305 310 335 345 340 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 305 205 210 205 200 205 245 240 
			 University of Nottingham 195 185 180 185 175 185 200 200 
			 University of Oxford 115 115 125 125 125 130 130 130 
			 University of Sheffield 185 195 215 230 225 230 215 215 
			 University of Southampton 105 105 105 115 120 120 120 110 
			 Total 4,450 4,295 4,335 4,270 4,150 4,285 4,245 4,250 
			  
			  Clinical dentistry 
			 Kings College London(1,2) 50 130 120 125 105 95 120 115 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 45 55 50 45 45 45 50 50 
			 United Medical and Dental Schools Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital(1) 75 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 University College London(3) 50 75 55 50 50 45 50 50 
			 University of Birmingham 30 35 35 35 35 35 40 40 
			 University of Bristol 30 30 35 35 35 30 35 30 
			 University of Leeds 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 
			 University of Liverpool 35 35 35 35 35 35 40 40 
			 University of Manchester/University of Keele 50 45 45 45 40 45 50 50 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 40 35 35 40 40 40 40 35 
			 University of Sheffield 35 35 35 35 40 35 40 40 
			 Total 485 515 485 490 465 445 495 485 
			 (1) United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas's merged with Kings College London in 1998-99. (2) The apparent large jump in figures for Dentistry staff at Kings College London in 2003-04 is accounted for by the inclusion of around 100 staff on less that 25+ FTE (which would not have been collected on the previous records). (3) Royal Free Hospital Medical School merged with University College London in 1998-99. (4 )Number greater than zero but less than 3.  Note: Figures for 2002-03 and earlier are based upon individual academic appointments (of at least 25 per cent. of a full-time equivalent member of staff) active during the academic year whose primary employment function is teaching only, teaching and research. For 2003-04 onwards, staff with a full time equivalent of less than 25 per cent. are included and as such the two sets of figures are not comparable. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) staff record

Mental Health

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the results of the Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust consultation on the future of  (a) mental health services and  (b) The Fraser Day hospital will be published.

Rosie Winterton: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.
	The National Health Service South Central Strategic Health Authority has advised that the results of the Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust consultation on the future of mental health services and the Fraser Day hospital will be published and discussed at the primary care trust's board meeting on the 21 September 2006.

Mental Health

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors were taken into account in deciding that the measures outlined in the White Paper, "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say", should not apply to mental health services.

Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to his previous question on 16 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1532W. This explained that the Department had written to strategic health authority chief executives and performance managers on 16 February 2006, reminding them of the obligations upon primary care trusts when deciding the future of community hospitals, as outlined in the White Paper "Our health, Our Care, Our Say: a new direction for community services".
	The 16 February letter relates only to consultations about the future of community hospitals, not to mental health trusts. Where applicable, these have carried out separate consultations, and the Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust began a five week consultation on the future of mental health services in its area in June.
	The White Paper outlines our intention to provide more care in local, convenient settings such as new community hospitals. In many ways, this move is in line with what has been happening in mental health services since the national service framework was published in 1999. The White Paper mentions our plans for mental health services, which are featured prominently throughout. For example, we made a manifesto commitment to improve access to evidence-based psychological therapies, and reinforced this in the White Paper, which includes the following commitments:
	"Enabling health, independence and well-being better support for mental health and emotional well-being: promoting good practice; demonstration sites for people of working age, as part of our action to help people with health conditions and disabilities to remain in, or return to, work; access to computerised cognitive behaviour therapy (Page 24, chapter two, Health, independence and well-being)."
	Copies of the White Paper are available in the Library and it is available on the Department's website at dh.gov.uk/asstRoot/04/12/74/59/04127459.pdf.

Midwives

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the balance between recently qualified midwives and job opportunities in midwifery; and what steps are being taken to help new midwives into employment within the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: The national health service will continue to need new midwives to replace those who retire or take career breaks. However, there is now a much closer match between the demand and supply of healthcare workers and there is more competition for posts. It is a joint responsibility between higher education institutions and local NHS organisations to see that midwifery and other healthcare graduates are supported to find employment. Vacancies for graduates continue to be posted on "NHS Jobs" and the "NHS Careers" information service can direct graduates to appropriate sources of information and advice. Graduates are encouraged to be flexible when applying for posts.

Ministerial Visits

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS hospitals  (a) she and  (b) each of her Ministers has visited since 13 June.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State for Health and each of her Ministers have visited the following national health service hospitals since 13 June 2006.
	
		
			   Hospital  Visited by 
			  2006   
			 16 June 2006 Selly Oak Hospital Secretary of State for Health 
			 26 June Norwich Community Hospital Secretary of State for Health 
			 26 June Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Secretary of State for Health 
			 26 June Cambridge Mental Health Trust Secretary of State for Health 
			 27 June Prospect Park Hospital Secretary of State for Health 
			 14 July Mill View Hospital Secretary of State for Health 
			 14 July Royal Sussex University Hospital Secretary of State for Health 
			 25 July Cirencester Hospital Secretary of State for Health 
			 25 July Royal Bath University Hospital Secretary of State for Health 
			 7 September James Cook University Hospital Secretary of State for Health 
			 20 June St. Bartholomews Hospital Lord Warner Minister of State 
			 4 July Edgware Community Hospital Lord Warner Minister of State 
			 26 July St. Georges Hospital, Stafford Lord Warner Minister of State 
			 28 June Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich Andy Burnham Minister of State 
			 3 July Tameside General Hospital Andy Burnham Minister of State 
			 11 July Luton and Dunstable Hospital Andy Burnham Minister of State 
			 21 July Merrick House Mental Health Trust Andy Burnham Minister of State 
			 24 July Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital Andy Burnham Minister of State 
			 26 July Taunton and Somerset Hospital Andy Burnham Minister of State 
			 27 July Peterborough District Hospital Andy Burnham Minister of State 
			 18 August Salford Royal Foundation Trust Andy Burnham Minister of State 
			 14 June Medway Hospital Trust Caroline Flint Minister of State

Mount Vernon Hospital

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to make a final announcement about the future of Mount Vernon hospital.

Rosie Winterton: The future of Mount Vernon hospital is a matter for the local national health service, who are best placed to decide how to provide services to their local communities.
	I understand that Hillingdon hospital NHS trust is committed to developing services for local people at the Mount Vernon hospital site. Current plans include the construction of a £13 million treatment centre which will offer patients more choice about where they are treated for pre-booked surgery and procedures. The treatment centre should open in 2008.

New Mothers

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the health implications of factors affecting the access to skimmed milk of women who have recently given birth.

Rosie Winterton: No specific assessment has been made of the health implications of factors affecting access to skimmed milk of women who have recently given birth. The Department recommends all adults and children over five years consume lower fat varieties of milk to reduce the intake of saturated fats in the diet. The welfare food scheme, to become the healthy start scheme later in 2006, provides pregnant women and women with young children on qualifying benefits with vouchers for whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed milk.

NHS Bank

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each strategic health authority  (a) contributed to and  (b) received from the NHS Bank in each year since 2002.

Andy Burnham: The NHS Bank is funded from a central allocation from the Department of Health. The contributions received by SHAs in each year since 2002 are set out as follows.
	
		
			  NHS Bank: special assistance funding provided 
			  Million 
			  Allocation  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 AGW 45 70 40 20 
			 Surrey and Sussex 30 40 20 — 
			 Beds and Herts 25 — — — 
			 Thames Valley — 25 10 — 
			 Kent and Medway — 17 — — 
			 Total 100 152 70 20 
		
	
	In addition to the distribution of special assistance funding, the NHS Bank also managed the brokerage of cash and capital resources between SHAs. Any cash and capital resources contributed from, or received by, an SHA under these arrangements was returnable in full in the following financial year.

NHS Bank

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which strategic health authorities have made contributions to the NHS Bank in each year since 2002; and how much contribution each made.

Andy Burnham: The NHS Bank has made special assistance funding allocations, and certain central budget allocations, on behalf of the Department. Any such allocations are funded from a central departmental allocation.
	The NHS Bank also managed the brokerage of cash and capital resources between strategic health authorities (SHAs). Any cash and capital resources contributed from, or received by, an SHA under these arrangements was returnable in full in the following financial year.

NHS Bank

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which  (a) primary care trusts and  (b) NHS trusts are repaying loans to the NHS Bank.

Andy Burnham: The NHS Bank provides funding to strategic health authorities (SHA) only. The Bank does not provide repayable loans to primary care trusts and national health service trusts. The distribution of funding to individual organisations is the responsibility of the relevant SHA.
	The NHS Bank managed the brokerage of cash and capital resources between SHAs. Any cash and capital resources contributed from, or received by, an SHA under these arrangements was returnable in full in the following financial year.

NHS Beds

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds for terminally ill and palliative care are available in  (a) Sunderland Royal hospital,  (b) Hartlepool university hospital and  (c) Durham university hospital.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is only available at trust level.

NHS Dentistry

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentist surgeries there are in the East Yorkshire Primary Care Trust area; and how many of these are not accepting new NHS patients.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 11 September 2006
	As at 31 March 2006, there were 29 NHS dental practices in the general dental services (GDS), or personal dental services (PDS) within East Yorkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT).
	Data on dentists accepting or not accepting new NHS patients is not centrally available.
	Information on the number of dentists or dental practices who have signed the new contract and the number who have not signed is not available centrally.
	We do however have some provisional information that covers contracts. A contract may be for more than one dentist so cannot be broken down further to individual dentist level. Provisional management estimates show that in East Yorkshire PCT:
	
		
			   Number/percentage 
			  Contracts signed  
			 A: Number 21 
			 B: Approximate UDA value 177,107 
			   
			  Contracts still in discussion  
			 C: Number 0 
			 D: Approximate UDA value 0 
			   
			  Contracts rejected  
			 E: Number 15 
			 F: Approximate UDA value 29,325 
			 Percentage UDAs 14.2 
			   
			  Contracts signed  
			 G: Number signed without dispute 18 
			 H: Number signed in dispute 3 
			 Percentage disputes 14.3 
			  Notes: 1. Data include all notifications of dentists joining or leaving the GDS or PDS, received by the NHS Business Services Authority, up to 23 March 2006. Figures for the numbers of dentists at specified dates may vary depending upon the notification period, e.g. data with a later notification period will include more recent notifications of dentists joining or leaving the GDS or PDS. 2. Dentists consist of principals, assistants and trainees. Prison contracts have been excluded. 3. The postcode of the Dental Practice was used to allocate dentists to specific geographic areas. Constituency areas have been defined using the Office for National Statistics All Fields Postcode Directory. 4. Data on the number of dentists working only in private practice are not held centrally. 
		
	
	Primary care trusts are working with dentists to resolve as many disputes as possible locally.

NHS Finance

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which of the acute hospital trusts which experienced a budget deficit in 2005-06 have plans  (a) to recover the whole of the deficit,  (b) to recover more than 50 per cent. of the deficit,  (c) to recover less than 50 per cent. of the deficit and  (d) to recover little or none of the deficit but achieve a balanced budget within the 2006-07 financial year; and what the amount of deficit incurred in 2005-06 was in each case;
	(2)  what sanctions are available to her Department to ensure that trusts which have a substantial deficit outturn for 2005-06 are required to take action to recover balance within an agreed timetable; and which trusts have not yet satisfied her Department that they have plans in place to achieve balance.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 24 July 2006
	The aim is for the national health service as a whole to achieve financial balance by the end of 2006-07.
	It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities (SHAs) to deliver overall financial balance by developing and implementing a service and financial strategy for managing the financial position within their locality. All NHS organisations that overspend are required to develop recovery plans to return to financial balance. Recovery plans are agreed and managed by SHAs, not the Department. There is a degree of flexibility, however, in how this is managed at a local level. SHAs can agree a recovery plan which phases the recovery of deficits over a number of years. NHS trusts have a three-year period to recover their deficit. This period can be extended to five years in exceptional circumstances.
	SHAs are accountable to the Department for the financial performance of the organisations within their own health economy. The Department will work with the SHAs, through enhanced performance management procedures, to ensure that overall net financial balance is returned to the NHS, and improvements are made to the financial position of all individual organisations in deficit.
	The 2005-06 provisional outturn financial figures of all NHS organisations were announced on 7 June 2006 and are available in the Library.

NHS Logistics Authority

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what system of redress will be put in place for NHS trusts, hospitals and clinicians in the event of a fall in the standards of service maintained by the NHS Logistics Authority after its functions are outsourced to DHL; and what financial penalties will be available;
	(2)  how she will ensure that the current level of quality controls are maintained in the contract between the Department of Health and DHL in relation to the functions of the NHS Logistics Authority.

Andy Burnham: The contract with DHL is to be managed by the NHS Business Services Authority. DHL will be penalised if service standards fall below current levels. The details of the financial penalties are confidential for commercial reasons.
	As there is no mandate for the national health service to use DHL's services, DHL has to prove to the NHS that it is providing good value for money in terms of best product range and best prices underpinned by good service. If DHL does not demonstrate this to the NHS, the NHS is free to purchase elsewhere.
	Ultimately in the clinical arena the end users, the clinicians, are responsible for choosing the products they need for patient care. DHL will work with clinicians through the clinical councils to ensure the right products are purchased for the NHS.

NHS Logistics Authority

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to ensure that the contract between the Department of Health and DHL in relation to the functions of the NHS Logistics Authority will ensure that hospitals and clinicians using the service are offered a choice of products.

Andy Burnham: DHL will establish clinical councils to ensure that there is clinical input into the choice of products included in the catalogue range. DHL will work closely with the new collaborative procurement hubs to make sure that each region is getting the range its clinicians need and, at competitive prices.

NHS Logistics Authority

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what market testing exercise was used as the basis for the decision to outsource the functions of the NHS Logistics Authority to the independent sector; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The contract has been signed at the end of a three year process to determine whether partnering with the private sector was the best option. After carrying out a feasibility study in 2003 a notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in August 2004. An invitation to submit outline proposals was sent to six pre-qualified organisations in November 2004. After a rigorous evaluation process of the responses, in July 2005 the Department sent three selected bidders an invitation to negotiate. After a further rigorous evaluation two bidders were taken forward and a preferred bidder was selected in February 2006. Final negotiations and a final decision to outsource was taken in September 2006.
	The overall basis for the decision to outsource was better value for money for the national health services. The outsourcing offers three times more savings to the NHS than keeping the operations in-house.

Non-medical Professional Regulation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has received a copy of the draft report by the chief medical officer into medical regulation; and when she expects the final report to be published.

Andy Burnham: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 24 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1117W.

Nursing Education

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been given to education authorities on the level of grants they should provide to private sector providers of nursing education; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Neither the Department or the Department for Education and Skills directly commission or grant fund private sector providers of nursing education via education authorities. Therefore, neither Department provides formal advice on this issue to them.

Nursing Education

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of nursing schools is  (a) state-funded,  (b) voluntary and  (c) private; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department provides funding to strategic health authorities to commission nursing education places, usually from universities. The state funding of universities is a matter for Higher Education Funding Council for England. The Department and the Department for Education and Skills do not collect information on voluntary and private funding which is a matter for each university.

Paediatric Units

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paediatric units in England are  (a) being downgraded and  (b) having in-patient facilities reduced.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally. Decisions on local health care provision, including paediatric services, are a matter for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities in consultation with the local population.

Patient Advocacy

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) membership,  (b) terms of reference and  (c) timetable are of the working group of voluntary sector representatives established to scope the issues relating to a national voice for patients; and what progress has been made to date in the work of this group.

Rosie Winterton: The work on national voices is being developed by a group of voluntary sector organisations under the chairmanship of Baroness Morgan. The Department is supporting this work by providing a part-time project manager who is based within the sector. The Department is not responsible for either the membership of the group or its terms of reference. The Department is keen that the proposals developed are independent and the responsibility of the voluntary sector organisations involved. We await with interest the projects findings which should report in December 2006.

Patient Advocacy

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable there is for strengthening the involvement of the public in the work of the health overview and scrutiny committees in local authorities.

Rosie Winterton: As set out in "A Stronger Local Voice", we plan to establish new local involvement networks (LINks) to provide flexible ways for communities to engage with health and social care organisations in ways that best suit the communities and the people in them.
	There will be one LINk for each local authority area with social services responsibilities and, as such, they will be able to develop a close relationship with the overview and scrutiny committee (OSC) with which they will be coterminous, informing the OSC on the public needs and experiences, enabling the OSCs to pursue critical issues based of the evidence of users' experience. LINks will also have the power to refer matters to OSCs and receive an appropriate response.
	These plans will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.

Patient Advocacy

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how local involvement networks will be held to account for their use of public funds as set out in her Department's paper "A Stronger Local Voice".

Rosie Winterton: We are currently considering the ways in which local involvement networks will be held to account for their use of public funds.

Physiotherapists

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of those who qualified in physiotherapy in 2006 have found employment in the NHS; and what the figures were in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

Plastic Water Bottles

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006,  Official Report, column 155W, on plastic water bottles, if she will ensure that information is disseminated to the public on possible contamination of drinking water in plastic bottles from cleaning materials stored nearby.

Rosie Winterton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published advice on this matter. They have advised consumers not to store food or drink, including plastic bottles of water, next to chemicals. Their advice is available on the FSA website at:
	www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/keepingfoodsafe/asksamstoring preparing/#A306011

Project 2000

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of Project 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: A major review of Project 2000 was commissioned by the Department and its findings published in 1991. Entitled "fitness to practice", it resulted in adaptations to the pre-registration programme. In addition to this large-scale evaluation, we have funded studies on various aspects of nurse education and continue to do so.

Public Involvement Forums

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the proposals in the Government's publication "A Stronger Local Voice", when detailed proposals for the powers of  (a) hospital and  (b) ambulance patient and public involvement forums are expected to be available.

Rosie Winterton: We are currently analysing the many responses to "A Stronger Local Voice", and once this process has been finalised, further details will be made available.

Secure Special Hospitals

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend the provision of secure special hospital beds.

Rosie Winterton: There are no plans to extend the provision of secure special (now high security psychiatric) hospital beds since the three existing high security psychiatric hospitals, Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton, have sufficient capacity to meet current and anticipated demand for high security psychiatric placements.

Secure Special Hospitals

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost of a new secure special hospital.

Rosie Winterton: No estimate has been made of the cost of building a new secure special (now high security psychiatric) hospital since there are no plans to build a new high security psychiatric hospital.

Sexual Health

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the progress towards implementing the plans outlined in the White Paper, Choosing Health, to treat sexual health services as a priority issue;
	(2)  what progress has been made towards implementing changes to the provision of sexual health services, as outlined in the White Paper, Choosing Health; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Sexual health and improving access to genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics is one of the top six priorities for the national health service in 2006-07. The White Paper "Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier" published in November 2004, a copy of which is available in the Library, made a number of commitments to improve sexual health including a target that everyone should be offered an appointment within 48 hours of contacting a GUM clinic by 2008. Strategic health authorities have submitted plans to meet this target.
	Overall, the number of attendees at GUM clinics seen within 48 hours in England increased from 45 per cent. in May 2005 to 54 per cent. in May 2006 and a further 4 per cent. were offered an appointment but chose not to attend.
	The "Choosing Health" White Paper also announced an accelerated timetable to achieve national roll out of the National Chlamydia screening programme. We have rolled out the screening programme successfully to over 25 per cent. of primary care trusts (PCTs) and many other PCTs will begin screening during 2006.
	We have also taken forward the commitment that as well as the national programme we will take steps to introduce and evaluate the effectiveness of Chlamydia screening in retail pharmacies starting in London. We have contracted Boots the Chemists to evaluate the potential of retail pharmacies as Chlamydia screening venues. Screening started on 14 November 2005. This two year pilot will be independently evaluated by TNS Healthcare.
	We have also undertaken the audit of contraceptive provision. PCTs were recently asked to complete a national baseline questionnaire of contraceptive services. The results will inform the publication of best practice guidance by the Department of Health and will help PCTs determine how best to meet gaps in local services. We have also recently reduced the value added tax rate on condoms and other contraceptives, making the costs of these items more affordable and are working with the industry to increase the supply of free condoms to high risk groups.
	Later this year we will be launching a new sexual health campaign. The campaign will target 16 to 34-year-old young adults, highlighting the risks of unprotected sex and the benefits of condom use to avoid sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.
	This increased priority for sexual health and the implementation of "Our health, Our Care, Our Say: a new direction for community services", a copy of which is available in the Library, should significantly strengthen the incentive for local investment and service modernisation.

Sexual Health

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the use by  (a) strategic health authorities and  (b) primary care trusts of money allocated for sexual health services; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities will receive funding for implementing the targets in the White Paper "Choosing Health: making healthy choices easier" in their mainstream allocations and we will be monitoring the outcomes from this investment through local delivery plans. PCT revenue allocations separately identify funding to support the implementation of choosing health. It is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the health care needs of their local populations. A copy of the White Paper is available in the Library.

Sexual Health

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions her Department has had with strategic health authorities on spending on sexual health services; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Officials in the Department regularly meet with officials from strategic health authorities to discuss a number of issues. These discussions are focused on the delivery of key targets for sexual health rather than funding issues which are a local matter for primary care trusts.

Speech and Language Therapists

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by her Department to increase the number of speech and language therapists in England; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Workplace planning is a matter for local determination. It is for individual primary care trusts to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to commission speech and language services to meet the health care needs of their local populations.
	The number of qualified speech and language therapists employed in the national health service has increased by 1,888 (39 per cent.) since September 1997 and the number of students entering training to become a qualified speech and language therapist has increased by 75 per cent. since 1998-99.

Thrombosis

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Chief Medical Officer regarding the forthcoming publication of the recommendations of the expert working group on serious thromboembolism.

Caroline Flint: The Government response to the House of Commons Health Committee's report on the prevention of venous thromboembolism in hospitalised patients was presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health in July 2005. The response included a reference to a letter that the Chief Medical Officer had written to all doctors on this topic, and a commitment to set up an independent expert working group which would make its recommendations by summer 2006. The report and recommendations were submitted to the Chief Medical Officer on 17 July 2006. The Chief Medical Officer is now considering its findings and the next steps for implementation of any of the recommendations.

Thrombosis

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she expects the recommendation of the expert working group on serious thromboembolism to the published in July.

Andy Burnham: The independent expert working group on the prevention of venous thromboembolism in hospitalised patients was asked to submit its report and recommendations to the Chief Medical Officer by July 2006. The report was completed and submitted on 17 July 2006. The Chief Medical Officer is now considering its findings and the next steps for implementation of any of the recommendations.

Water Act

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the delay in implementing outstanding sections of the Water Act 2003 on the work of strategic health authorities in undertaking formal consultations on water fluoridation;
	(2)  which sections of the Water Act 2003 are not yet in force;
	(3)  when she plans to bring outstanding sections of the Water Act 2003 into force.

Rosie Winterton: We commenced sections 58(5), (6) and (8) of the Water Act 2003 in February 2005 to enable regulations to be made on the consultations that strategic health authorities (SHAs) will have to undertake before requiring a water undertaker to fluoridate their water and the indemnities available to water undertakers who fluoridate a water supply. We are in contact with SHAs so that we may commence the remaining provisions within section 58 when required.

Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely impact on  (a) waiting lists,  (b) bed availability and  (c) out-patient care of the financial (i) position and (ii) action announced by Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS trust.

Rosie Winterton: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

Worthing Hospital

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who instructed Tribal MGB of Chislehurst to carry out a valuation of the Worthing hospital site.

Rosie Winterton: This is a local matter. The NHS South East Coast has advised that neither it nor national health service organisations in West Sussex have commissioned a valuation in respect of this property.

Worthing Hospital

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from  (a) within the NHS and  (b) the public about the future of Worthing Hospital and its services.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has received approximately 52 letters from members of the public on the future of Worthing Hospital and its services. It is not possible to determine how many of these letters might have been from national health service employees.

Worthing Hospital

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information has been sent by her Department to the Prime Minister's Office on the future of Worthing's hospital.

Rosie Winterton: The future of Worthing hospital is an issue for the local national health service.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Algeria

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether under the Memorandum of Understanding she reached with the Algerian Government on the use of torture those deported from the UK to Algeria will be treated as if the UN Convention on Torture applied to them in Algeria.

Kim Howells: There is no Memorandum of Understanding with the Algerian Government nor are we seeking one. A framework for deportations to Algeria was concluded during President Bouteflika's visit to London on 11 July 2006. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President signed an Exchange of Letters on deportation—the letters have been placed in the Library of the House. This exchange will be supplemented by individual assurances in each case.
	The Government are satisfied that these arrangements and the changing circumstances in Algeria allow the UK to deport individuals in a manner consistent with its domestic and international human rights obligations. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission recently dismissed an appeal against deportation by terrorist suspect 'Y', ruling that he would not face a real risk of inhuman or degrading treatment if he were returned to Algeria.
	Algeria is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

Arms Trade

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what enquiries have been made into the way in which British export restrictions were evaded in the case of British made night sight equipment found in the hands of Hezbollah forces in South Lebanon; and what findings have resulted.

Kim Howells: We have been in close touch with the Israeli Defence Force who have confirmed that British made night vision goggles were not found in Lebanon, as media reports have suggested. There were however two pieces of British equipment found. One was a commercially available remote video camera for which no export licence was required. The other was a thermal imaging system that was exported under licence in 1999. Proper procedures were followed at the time, including making a careful risk assessment. This concluded there was no reason to suspect that the equipment would be used for anything other than its described purpose.
	All applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria and other prevailing circumstances at the time of application. If there is any risk that the equipment will be diverted from its stated end use, a licence will not be issued. If information comes to light about possible diversion of equipment after export, this will be taken into account when assessing future applications.

Arms Trade

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the Chinese Government's request for the lifting of the EU-China arms embargo; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The EU has a common approach on this issue. The European Council announced a review of the EU arms embargo in December 2003, which is ongoing. As set out in the December 2004 European Council Conclusions, the result of any decision on the embargo should not be an increase in arms exports from EU member states to China, either in quantitative or qualitative terms. EU leaders also recalled the importance of the criteria of the Code of Conduct on arms exports, in particular criteria regarding human rights, stability and security in the region and the national security of friendly and allied countries. The Government continue fully to implement the arms embargo.

British Nationals (Foreign Prisons)

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for which British nationals in foreign prisons the Government has asked for clemency or for release in the past 15 years; and what the reasons were in each case.

Ian McCartney: We do not ask for clemency or release for British nationals in foreign prisons but will support a plea for clemency made by a prisoner in certain circumstances. Our clemency policy is outlined in an answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) by the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State (Brian Wilson) on 2 May 2001,  Official Report, column 629W. Specific details on cases for which we have supported pleas for clemency are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Additionally, for data protection reasons, we cannot give out names of individuals for whom we have supported clemency pleas.

Carbon Emissions

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking towards being carbon neutral.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 19 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 490-91W, to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne). The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to achieving carbon neutrality on our estate by 2012.

Child Protection

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many new cases were handled by the Child Abduction Unit in each of the last five years; and what its operating budget was in each year.

Ian McCartney: The Child Abduction Section at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) records statistics on cases of international parental child abduction or retention brought to its attention and where it has offered consular assistance to British nationals, rather than recording the total number of abductions from the United Kingdom. The FCO usually provides assistance in abduction and retention cases in countries which are not party to the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. The Child Abduction Section was established in 2003 so statistics are not available before then.
	
		
			   Cases recorded 
			 2003 240 
			 2004 295 
			 2005 208 
		
	
	The operating budget for the section was as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Total budget (£) 
			 2003-04 46,253 
			 2004-05 181,167 
			 2005-06 237,598 
			 2006-07 250,659 
			 Total 715,677

Child Protection

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of protocols and the aspects of the Hague Treaty regarding reciprocal recognition by foreign courts of custody and residence and contact orders made by UK courts.

Ian McCartney: Since the UK-Pakistan Protocol was signed in 2003, the Child Abduction Section in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has recorded 72 cases of child abduction to Pakistan. Although we do not have statistics on cases prior to that time, we believe that the protocol has proven instrumental in concluding many child abduction cases and broader policy issues between the two countries that may otherwise have not been resolved. As far as Hague Convention signatory countries are concerned, the Hague Convention Special Commission in November will provide an opportunity for further assessment to be made on how the convention is working in practice.

Child Protection

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what international police liaison and intelligence arrangements are in place to assist efforts to ensure the location and legally mandated return from overseas of children or minors removed from, or encouraged or facilitated to leave, the jurisdiction of the UK courts in contravention of valid awards of custody or residence; and which countries are engaged in dialogue with the Department on securing improved co-operation and recognition of reciprocal agreements.

Ian McCartney: When minors are removed from the UK in contravention of existing UK court orders, the UK police will work through Interpol to determine their location overseas. If the minor has been taken to a country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention, the normal procedures will be taken under the Hague Convention through the relevant central authority. When a non-Hague Convention country is involved, the matter has to be resolved through the courts in the respective countries. We encourage those countries not already signed up to the Hague Convention to consider becoming signatories. We are in regular dialogue with a number of non-Hague Convention countries on international child abduction, including Pakistan with which we have a bilateral judicial protocol in place which serves to return children to their country of habitual residence for matters of custody to be resolved there.

Cyprus

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings she has had with the Government of Turkey to discuss that country's occupation of part of Cyprus.

Geoff Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met the Turkish Foreign Minister on 18 July 2006, when she discussed Turkey's continued support for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus. During my visit to Turkey on 11 September 2006, I also discussed prospects for progress towards a Cyprus settlement. We continue fully to support the efforts of the UN.

Darfur

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in establishing a multilateral force to take over from the African Union in Darfur; what recent assessment she has made of the situation in Darfur; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: UN Security Council Resolution 1706, which the UK sponsored, was passed on 31 August and calls for a UN force to take over from the African Union (AU) in Darfur. This resolution demonstrates our continued commitment to practical and viable steps to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. The security situation in Darfur is deteriorating and there is an increase in violent attacks. We condemn the Government of Sudan's attempts to resolve the situation through military action, which is completely at odds with the Darfur Peace Agreement. The Sudanese Government must now move to co-operate with the UN and enable a UN force to succeed the AU force in Darfur.

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she received advice from Mockbul Ali in respect of the admission to the United Kingdom of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi.

Ian McCartney: It is not Foreign and Commonwealth Office policy to comment publicly on named civil servants, nor to comment on individual entry clearance applications.

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she made a decision on issuing a visa for the recent visit of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi to the UK.

Ian McCartney: I cannot comment on individual cases. However, all applicants must meet the entry clearance criteria immigration controls, as set out on the UKvisas website at www.ukvisas.gov.uk.

EU (Accession)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her Department's policy is on the suspension of any part of negotiations for Turkish accession to the EU in response to Turkey's refusal to open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft.

Geoff Hoon: The UK wholeheartedly supports Turkey's EU accession and was delighted that the EU opened negotiations with Turkey under the UK's presidency. The hon. Gentleman rightly raises the important issue of Turkey's implementation of the Ankara Agreement Protocol, and we continue to convey to the Turkish government the need to implement this obligation. We continue to support the EU's declaration of 21 September 2005, which inter alia said that
	"the EU would evaluate full implementation in 2006".

EU (Accession)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the state of readiness of  (a) Bulgaria and  (b) Romania to join the EU in January 2007.

Geoff Hoon: Bulgaria and Romania have made considerable progress in their preparations for EU membership. The European Commission report of 16 May 2006 showed in detail where both countries had met EU standards and where they needed to make further progress.
	We agree with the Commission's assessment. Particular concerns were raised for both countries regarding corruption, organised crime and agriculture. We hope to see a positive assessment of progress in these areas in the Commission's next report on 26 September and a recommendation that both countries accede to the EU on 1 January 2007.

Iran

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is her policy that the recent Iranian report regarding that country's nuclear programme should be made available to all EU foreign Ministers.

Kim Howells: EU High Representative Javier Solana presented Iran with a set of far-reaching proposals on behalf of the 'E3+3' (France, Germany, UK + China, Russia, US) on 6 June 2006. The proposals would give Iran everything it needs to develop a modern civil nuclear power generation industry, and other benefits, while meeting international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme. On 22 August 2006, the Secretary General of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, met E3+3 representatives in Tehran. Disappointingly, he did not say that Iran would take the steps required for negotiations to begin, including a full suspension of all uranium enrichment related and reprocessing activities as required by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors and the UN Security Council. We have briefed our EU partners in detail on Dr. Larijani's comments. EU Foreign Ministers discussed next steps when they met on 1-2 September 2006, and will do so again on 15 September 2006. We continue to urge Iran to take the positive path on offer.

Iraq

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action her Department is taking to assist the Assyrian community in Iraq.

Ian McCartney: The Government continue to promote the rights and freedoms of minorities in Iraq through their regular contacts with the Government of Iraq, political and religious leaders, including Assyrians, and civil society. We welcome provisions in Iraq's constitution, which guarantee democratic principles and rights and freedoms of all individuals, including the freedom of worship. We continue to encourage the Iraqi Government to ensure these rights are protected and enforced, and we raise with them any issues of concern that come to our attention.

Israel

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when officials from her Department last discussed the amount of military aid provided to the Israeli Government by the United States since 1979 with their counterparts in the United States Administration; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We frequently discuss Middle East issues with the US Government. The amount of US military assistance to Israel is a bilateral matter between the two Governments.

Israel

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many hours each week are spent by UK officials in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem monitoring the use of UK exported military equipment; how many officials are involved in this work; and what steps are taken to ensure all equipment is used in conformity with international law.

Kim Howells: In common with all of our diplomatic posts, our embassy and consulate officials in Israel and the occupied territories monitor local developments closely, and note any information which comes to light that military equipment supplied by the UK has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. The Government will take this into consideration when assessing any future export licence applications. The Government may also revoke relevant licence(s) and ask the authorities in the country concerned to investigate.
	Given the case by case nature of the monitoring work it is not possible to provide accurate figures for the amount of hours and the number of officials involved.
	All export licence applications from the UK are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria, taking full account of the prevailing circumstances at the time of application.

Israel

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with Israeli officials regarding the use of  (a) M483A1 Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions and  (b) other cluster munitions.

Kim Howells: All countries must ensure their usage of cluster munitions is consistent with International Humanitarian Law. Our embassy in Tel Aviv has recently sought clarification from the Israeli Government about their current policy on the use of these munitions.

Krishna Maharaj

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions in the past two years Krishna Maharaj has had a consular visit; and at which correctional institution in each case.

Ian McCartney: A Consular official from our vice-consulate in Orlando last visited Mr. Maharaj at the Columbia Correctional Institute on 8 November 2005. Prior to this he was visited at the Union Correctional Institute on 19 May 2004. We continue to monitor Mr. Maharaj's case closely.

Krishna Maharaj

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make representations to the authorities at state and at federal level for steps leading to the ending of the period in prison of Krishna Maharaj in the USA.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has already lodged three "amicus curiae" briefs on a point of international law in Mr. Maharaj's case. We understand that Mr. Maharaj still has appeals pending in both state and federal courts. Other than this, we have no remit to interfere in the due judicial process of the United States, either at state or federal level.

Krishna Maharaj

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long Krishna Maharaj has been incarcerated in the USA.

Kim Howells: Krishna Maharaj was arrested on 16 October 1986. On 16 October 2006, he will have been incarcerated for 20 years.

Middle East

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civilian British nationals were evacuated from Lebanon during the recent conflict; and how many chose to remain.

Ian McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) conducted a phased evacuation of some 4,600 people, of which 2,230 were British passport holders, from Beirut to Cyprus. The remainder were family members of British passport holders and nationals of EU, Commonwealth and other countries. Of the total number, we transported 2,250 from Cyprus to the UK. Many others left Lebanon independently.
	Despite a major communication effort through the media, the FCO website and the Know Before You Go Campaign to encourage British nationals to register with our embassy in Beirut, many British nationals in Lebanon chose not to tell the embassy of their presence in the country. We can therefore only estimate that a maximum of 2,000 British nationals remained in Lebanon after our evacuation ended.

Middle East

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civilian British nationals have  (a) died and  (b) been injured in the recent Middle East conflict in Israel and Lebanon.

Ian McCartney: No deaths or injuries that were directly attributable to the conflict have been reported to our embassy in Beirut. One British national died of natural causes in a hospital in Tyre sometime after it was bombed.
	Our embassy in Tel Aviv has reported that a dual British-Israeli citizen was killed serving with the Israeli Defence Forces in Lebanon.
	Neither embassy has received reports of injuries to British nationals.

Middle East

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many businesses owned by British citizens were damaged in the recent Middle East conflict in Israel and Lebanon.

Ian McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any reports of British owned businesses that have been damaged.

Middle East

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice and assistance is being given by the British Government to British citizens who have suffered personal or business losses in the recent middle east conflict in Israel and Lebanon.

Ian McCartney: We advise British nationals to seek private professional advice to ascertain whether there is any compensation available for their losses and how best to pursue the award of any such compensation.

Middle East

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her oral answer of 25 July 2006,  Official Report, column 720, to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman), on the middle east, what definition she uses of Islamic nation.

Ian McCartney: Islamic countries or nations can be defined as those where a majority of the population are Muslims—or a nation that regards itself as Islamic. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference Membership list presents a useful reference point towards defining Islamic nations, since many of those countries regard themselves as such.

Middle East

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government plan to carry out a review of Israel's compliance with Criterion 2 of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria following the conflict in Israel and Lebanon.

Kim Howells: holding answer 11 September 2006
	Licence applications are assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria taking into account prevailing circumstances. Therefore there is in effect a review of compliance each time an application is considered. Where there are concerns about any of the Consolidated Criteria, a licence will not be issued. Should any information come to light that military equipment supplied by the UK has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria, the Government will take this into consideration when assessing any future export licence applications. The Government may also revoke relevant licence(s) and ask the authorities in the country concerned to investigate.

Pakistan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current position is with regard to Mr. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, imprisoned in Pakistan; what involvement the Department has had in this case; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Omar Sheikh is a British-Pakistani national convicted and sentenced to death for involvement in the murder of the journalist Daniel Pearl. We continue to request consular access to Mr. Sheikh, most recently on 4 August 2006. In response to this latest request, the Sindh Home Minister told the British deputy high commissioner in Karachi to seek the permission of the court to visit Mr. Sheikh. The deputy high commissioner has since written to Mr. Sheikh's lawyers asking for their assistance in requesting the permission of the court.

Palestine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received on the arrest of Abdel Aziz Dweik; what representations she has made about his arrest; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We continue to have concerns about the detention of members of the Palestinian Government and Legislature including Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker Abdel Aziz Dweik. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and EU Foreign Ministers have called for their immediate release. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv has raised the detentions with the Israeli Government.

Palestine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received about the arrest of Palestinian parliamentarians; what representations she has made about the arrests; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We continue to have concerns about the detention of members of the Palestinian Government and Legislature. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and EU Foreign Ministers have called for their immediate release. Our embassy in Tel Aviv has raised the detentions with the Israeli Government.

Palestine

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her Department's policy is on  (a) the United Kingdom and  (b) the European Union entering into dialogue with Hamas.

Ian McCartney: The UK suspended contacts with Hamas in June 2005. At the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 10 April 2006, EU foreign Ministers agreed that there should be no contacts at a political level with the new Hamas led Palestinian Authority Government.
	Hamas know what they have to do for the international community to engage with them: renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. Hamas need to start implementing these principles and make clear the path they intend to take.

Palestine

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Israeli Government on the release of the Palestinian Members of Parliament taken prisoner by the Israeli military.

Ian McCartney: We continue to have concerns about the detention of members of the Palestinian Government and Legislature. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and EU Foreign Ministers have called for their immediate release. Our embassy in Tel Aviv has raised the detentions with the Israeli Government.

Palestine

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Palestinian Government with respect to its needs in ensuring safety and prosperity for its people.

Kim Howells: The UK suspended contacts with Hamas in June 2005. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has therefore had no discussions with the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority (PA) Government.
	We have continued to stay in regular contact with the President of the PA, Mahmoud Abbas. Most recently my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met with President Abbas on 10 September during his visit to the Middle East when of course the safety and prosperity of the Palestinian people was a central theme to their discussions.
	We have been working for some time with the PA to improve the security apparatus in the West Bank and Gaza, through technical assistance and provision of equipment. We co-ordinate our work with US Security Co-ordinator General William Ward's team to assist the PA in consolidating and expanding their efforts on security. We are also working closely with EU partners on a significant assistance project for Palestinian civil policing.
	The Government are committed to continue helping the Palestinian people. With a range of partners, we have worked hard to establish the "Temporary International Mechanism" which has been drawn up to provide needs-based assistance directly to the Palestinian people, without the need to channel funds through the Hamas-led Palestinian Government. The UK will contribute up to £12 million to the mechanism. Additionally, the Government announced on 25 April 2006 a UK contribution of £15 million to support the work of the United Nations Works and Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East, which supports Palestinian refugees throughout the region, including in Israel and Lebanon. The UK has a strong record of support for the Palestinian people. Since 2001, we have provided £147 million, in addition to our contributions through the EU, which is the biggest donation to the Palestinian people.

Pascua Lama Mine Project

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions her Department has had with  (a) Chile and  (b) Argentina on the Pascua Lama open-cast mine project.

Geoff Hoon: We have not had any specific discussions with the Chilean or Argentine Governments on the Pascua Lama open-cast mine project. We do, however, have a strong and continuing dialogue with both Governments on environmental issues, which includes regular contact with local mining authorities.

Qualified Majority Voting

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to support the extension of qualified majority voting in the EU in the field of police and home affairs.

Geoff Hoon: The Government are giving careful consideration to the proposals contained in the Commission's Communication "Implementing the Hague Programme: the Way Forward". We welcome efforts to take forward EU work in the Justice and Home Affairs field. In that context, the Finnish presidency have proposed discussion on the use of the Article 42 'passerelle', one consequence of which could be the application of qualified majority voting to some parts of EU police and judicial co-operation. We will need to be satisfied that any proposals would genuinely improve the decision making process, and that such a move would be in the UK's national interest.

Saudi Arabia

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances she has sought from the Saudi Arabian Government that the use of Eurofighter jets due to be exported to Saudi Arabia will be in compliance with international law.

Ian McCartney: Any export of military equipment to Saudi Arabia will require an export licence. All export licence applications are assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria including Criteria 6—the behaviour of the buyer country, including respect for international law. A licence will not be issued if to do so would be inconsistent with the criteria.

Sri Lanka

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken since 25 July to encourage positive dialogue between warring parties in Sri Lanka.

Ian McCartney: Throughout the serious deterioration in the security situation over recent months we have made clear in meetings at the highest levels with the Government of Sri Lanka and also to political representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka, our serious concern at the escalation in violence. We have urged all parties to show restraint. We participated in an EU démarche in August to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation. Foreign and Commonwealth officials also met the leader of the Sri Lankan opposition (United National Party) and stressed the importance of political consensus in working towards a solution that satisfies the concerns and legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankans. We are in close contact with the Government of Norway and continue to underline to both sides our full support for their efforts as peace process facilitators.
	President Rajapakse, Foreign Minister Samaraweera and senior Sri Lankan officials met my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Chequers on 31 August. The talks focused on the internal security situation in Sri Lanka and the state of the peace process.

Sri Lanka

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK Government are taking to assist the Government and people of Sri Lanka  (a) to achieve a lasting internal peace agreement and  (b) to promote civil and political rights for all citizens.

Kim Howells: Throughout the escalation in violence over recent months we have made our concerns clear in meetings at the highest levels, with the Government of Sri Lanka and also with political representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. President Rajapakse, Foreign Minister Samaraweera, and senior Sri Lankan officials met my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Chequers on 31 August 2006. The talks focused on the internal security situation in Sri Lanka and the state of the peace process. We are also in close contact with the Government of Norway as the peace process facilitators and we make clear to both sides our full support of their efforts.
	We have been deeply concerned following the reports of the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission, the International Commission of Jurists, about the deteriorating human rights situation in the North and East. Any abuse is to be deplored. We welcome President Rajapakse's proposal to,
	"invite an international independent commission to probe abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial killings in all areas of the country".
	We agree with the statement of the United Nations Special Rapporteur, on extra-Judicial killings, Philip Alston that the commission must be independent, credible and effective and that the advice of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights would facilitate the establishment of such a commission.

Visas

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visitors' visas from  (a) Australia,  (b) Canada and  (c) South Africa were refused between (i) January and June 2004, (ii) January and June 2005 and (iii) January and June 2006.

Kim Howells: The information requested by the hon. Member is provided in the following tables:
	
		
			  Visitor applications for Australia, Canada and South Africa with the refusals. 
			   Visitor (including family visits) 
			   Australia  Canada  South Africa 
			   Received  Refused  Received  Refused  Received  Refused 
			 April 2004—March 2005(1) 2,282 30 13,650 155 4,534 2,077 
			 January 2005—June 2005 1,238 13 5,430 31 1,889 816 
			 January 2006—June 2006 1,234 30 4,744 135 2,103 835 
		
	
	
		
			   Visitor (excluding family visits) 
			   Australia  Canada  South Africa 
			   Received  Refused  Received  Refused  Received  Refused 
			 April 2004—March 2005(1) 2,065 29 10,358 115 3,515 1,543 
			 January 2005—June 2005 1,089 13 2,795 23 1,351 557 
			 January 2006—June 06 1,074 28 2,287 85 1,525 554 
			  Note: These figures have not been published and should only be used for information. Please note that during 2004-05, only family visits were recorded by month, not visits. Therefore the annual figures published for financial year 2004-05 has been stated.  Sources: (1) April 2004—March 2005 = Published Entry Clearance Statistics January—June 2005 = Monthly Statistical Returns—7 September 2006 January—June 2006 = Monthly Statistical Returns—7 September 2006

Zimbabwe

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will investigate claims that women deported from the UK to Zimbabwe have been attacked and sexually abused after returning to Zimbabwe.

Ian McCartney: We take allegations of abuse in Zimbabwe extremely seriously. We have therefore put in place enhanced monitoring procedures, including an agreement with the International Organisation for Migration, to monitor the treatment of immigration offenders who have returned from the UK to Zimbabwe. In their 2 August determination, the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal found that returnees are not at real risk of mistreatment on return to Zimbabwe by virtue of being returned from the UK. If the hon. Gentleman has any new evidence of such attacks or abuse, we would be grateful if he could pass it to us.
	We are concerned about the broader human rights situation in Zimbabwe and take this up with the Government of Zimbabwe, directly and together with our international partners.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Arms Trade

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives he is pursuing for improved control of  (a) licensed production and  (b) brokerage of arms for export; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Government believe that the legislation implemented under the Export Control Act 2004, in respect of trafficking and brokering and licensed production, is efficient and effective. However, I am planning next year to review the export controls introduced in 2004. This will enable the Government to gauge their continuing effectiveness including in relation to licensed production and trafficking and brokering.

Arms Trade

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export licences to Israel were refused on the ground of  (a) aggressive use,  (b) contribution to regional conflict,  (c) human rights abuses and  (d) internal repression in each of the last 10 years; and if he will publish the information held by his Department on the use of UK military equipment by Israel in the occupied territories in that period.

Margaret Hodge: The Government publish details of refused export licence applications by destination, and the main reasons for their decisions, in their annual and quarterly reports on Strategic Export Controls. The Government's annual reports are available from the Library of the House, and the quarterly reports from the DTI Export Control Organisation website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/europeantrade/strategic-export-control/index.html
	The Department does not hold information on the use of UK military equipment abroad.

Auditing

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to introduce more competition and choice into the UK audit market;
	(2)  what assessment the Government have made of the Joint Audit System of Company Auditing.

Margaret Hodge: holding answers 11 September 2006
	The Financial Reporting Council are leading a public debate on competition and choice in the provision of audit services following the publication in April of a report analysing this market. This report was jointly sponsored by the Council and the Department and the Government are following the current debate closely. That debate will inform future discussions about what actions or changes might be desirable in order to promote competition and choice in the market. The Financial Reporting Council have just published a summary of the debate so far.
	It is possible under UK law to appoint joint auditors, and it is for companies to make that decision should they want to do so in the light of their needs and circumstances. I understand that the joint auditing approach has also been raised, in the responses received by the Financial Reporting Council, as one possible route to greater competition and choice in the audit market.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward proposals to fund Citizens Advice Bureaux directly.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The Department does not fund Citizens Advice Bureaux and will not consider doing so in the future.
	However, the Government recognise that the advice sector plays an import role, particularly in disadvantaged communities. All potential advice providers can bid for a share of any special time-limited grants for which DTI is responsible. For example some Citizens Advice Bureaux are included in the partnerships that gained grants awarded by my Department from the financial inclusion fund, over a two-year period, for providing face-to-face debt advice.

Cluster Munitions

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the UK plans to evaluate the operational failure rates of cluster munitions used by Israel that the UK also holds in stock.

Kim Howells: holding answer 11 September 2006
	I have been asked to reply.
	No decision has been taken on this yet. We need reliable statistics on Israel's use of cluster munitions in Lebanon before we can make an informed assessment of operational failure rates.

Companies Bill

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which organisations the Government have contacted in its latest consultation on the Companies Bill.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The Department invites comment from organisations and individuals who have expressed an interest in being kept informed on matters relating to the Companies Bill, and also publishes material on its website (www.dti.gov.uk). Recently, this has included a paper on the application of the Bill to existing companies. DTI officials contacted over 170 organisations and over 120 private individuals to invite representations in writing and will be meeting with a wide range of organisations. A list of the organisations that were contacted has been placed in the Library of the House.

Company Directors

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government plan to publish a non-statutory set of guidelines on the duties and responsibilities of company directors.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The Government recognise that it is important that the law in relation to the duties and responsibilities of company directors is accessible and widely understood. They therefore intend to publish plain language guidance on the duties and responsibilities of directors as part of their implementation of the Companies Bill, including the general duties under part 10 of the Bill.

Consumer Protection

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive; and what assessment he has made of the effects of the implementation of the directive on the powers available to consumer protection agencies.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The DTI has held two public consultations on the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive. The most recent, in December 2005, received 69 formal responses including responses from: consumer bodies, business and business organisations, trading standards departments, regulators, professional institutions and academics. A summary of these is on the Department's website. The DTI also held a number of workshops before and during the consultation process with consumer groups, enforcers and business representatives. It has also held numerous public presentations. In addition, the Department recently received eight letters from Members of Parliament and another from a local government central body that advises and supports local authority regulatory services.
	Implementation of the directive is overseen by a project board that includes representatives from the enforcement community. It is also informed by a stakeholder board consisting of representatives from business and consumer groups and enforcement authorities.
	In light of comments received, the Government are still considering how best to implement the directive. Yet implementation offers an opportunity to enhance the powers available to enforcement authorities. Options include: retaining existing criminal offences and investigative powers; and extending these to the new protections contained in the directive. Such powers might also, for the first time, be made available to a national consumer protection body, the Office of Fair Trading. The Government will clarify their intentions when they publish the response to the consultation paper.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a corrected reply to the letter of 12 July 2006 from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding a constituent, ref AE/587654.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 September 2006
	A corrected reply was sent on 22 August. I am sorry the wrong response was sent previously.

Energy Efficiency

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken towards making the operation of the Department carbon neutral.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The DTI is committed to energy efficiency targets and reduction in carbon emissions as set out in the "Framework for Sustainable Development in Government".
	Over the past two years the Department has reduced its London HQ estate by over 30 per cent. with a corresponding reduction in all the associated environmental impacts. More efficient use has been made of existing accommodation and the Department has adopted flexible desking on the basis of eight workstations for every 10 staff.
	Other carbon reduction initiatives include purchasing nearly a third of our electricity from renewable sources between 1999-2000 and 2004-05. We want to purchase more "green" electricity and are considering other renewable sources.

Eurofighter

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what resources in  (a) time and  (b) personnel were devoted to (i) assessing and (ii) facilitating the recent licence application for Eurofighter jets to be exported to Saudi Arabia.

Margaret Hodge: Export Licence applications are made to the Government in confidence and the information they contain is exempt from disclosure. For this reason the Government can neither confirm nor deny whether any such export licences have been received.
	Given the complexity of the application assessment process, and the number of Departments involved, it would not in anyway be possible to calculate the staff time spent on any individual application. However, by way of general background, the Export Control Organisation currently has 73 staff responsible for processing export licence applications. In addition, staff in a number of other Government Departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and, where appropriate, the Department for International Development, are involved in the assessment process. The Government processed 9062 applications in 2005.

Export Control Act

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his answer on 4 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1751W, on the Export Control Act, when he plans to produce and publish the terms of reference for the planned review; how many members of staff within the Export Control Organisation will be involved; which independent parties will be consulted; and what the planned  (a) start and  (b) end date is for the review.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 September 2006
	As indicated in my response to the hon. Gentleman's question of 4 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1751W, it is my intention to start the review of the regulations introduced under the Export Control Act after they have been in force for three years i.e. from May 2007. I have yet to decide the details of the review. There will be a public consultation. The review will involve a range of staff from across the Export Control Organisation and its advisory departments, but it is not possible to say precisely how many.

Import Licences

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what import licences have been issued since 2003 for small arms and light weapons from  (a) Serbia and Montenegro,  (b) the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,  (c) Romania,  (d) Ukraine,  (e) Albania,  (f) Bulgaria,  (g) Croatia and  (h) Kosovo to the UK; and what quantity of goods was allowed by each licence.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 September 2006
	Details of import licences issued from 1 January 2005 that would allow the import from (a) Serbia and Montenegro (SM),  (b) the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MK),  (c) Romania (RO),  (d) Ukraine (UA),  (e) Albania (AL),  (f) Bulgaria (BG),  (g) Croatia (HR) and  (h) Kosovo (XK) of small arms and light weapons (as defined by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) are listed. Similar lists for 2003 and 2004 could be drawn up in the time available only at disproportionate costs.
	The list is divided into those licences for which the applicant has provided a specific country of consignment and those licences where the applicant has simply stated that the goods are consigned from any country except a member state of the European Union. The code for the latter licences is "AY".
	
		
			  Import licences issued from 1 January 2005 to date 
			 AY 4 x DLASK Arms M4 5.56 calibre 
			 AY 60 x Pistols 
			 AY 50 x Handguns / machine pistols / silencers 
			 AY 45 x Shotguns / 5 x silencers 
			 AY 45 x Assorted prohibited weapons 
			 AY 500 x Assorted prohibited firearms and component parts 
			 AY 6,380 x Assorted prohibited firearms 
			 AY 358,725 x Assorted prohibited weapons 
			 AY 500 x Weapons and ammunition—Sections 5(1)(c) and 5(1A)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended 
			 AY 5,000 x Automatic weapons of all types 
			 AY 1,000 x Semi-automatic rifles and carbines 
			 AY 200 x Short-barrelled shotguns 
			 AY 50 x Rocket launchers, grenade launchers or mortars 
			 AY 2,000 x Handguns 
			 AY 12 x Weapons under Section 5(1)(a) / 12 x Section 5(1)(ab) / 12 x weapons under Section 5(1)(aba) 
			 AY 100,000 x Weapons under Section 5(1)(a) / 50,000 x weapons under 5(1)(ab) 
			 AY 500 x Assorted prohibited firearms and component parts 
			 AY 47,800 x Assorted prohibited firearms and component parts 
			 AY 40 x Handguns / 5 x machine pistols / 5 x silencers 
			 AY 45 x Shotguns / 5 x silencers 
			 AY No more than 45 in total x submachine guns, light machine guns, medium machine guns, heavy machine guns, automatic cannons, assault rifles/carbines, self-loading rifles, self-loading rifles/carbines, automatic rifles/carbines, pump action rifles/carbines 
			 AY Unlimited assorted prohibited firearms 
			 AY 6,470 x Assorted prohibited firearms 
			 AY 100 x Handguns 
			 AY 358,725 x Assorted prohibited weapons 
			 AY 500 x Automatic weapons of all types 
			 AY 1,000 x Semi-automatic rifles and carbines 
			 AY 200 x Short-barrelled shotguns 
			 AY 50 x Rocket launchers, grenade launchers or mortars 
			 AY 2,000 x Handguns 
			 AY 36 x Assorted prohibited weapons 
			 AY 20,450 x Assorted prohibited weapons 
			 AY 47,800 x Assorted prohibited firearms and component parts 
			 AY 1,000 x Assorted prohibited firearms and component parts 
			 AY No more than 13,000 in total x weapons under Sections 5(1)(a), 5(1)(ab), (ac) and (ae) / 1,300 x weapons under Section 5(1)(b) / 500 x weapons under Section 5(1)(aba) / 25,000 x weapons under Sections 5(1)(c), 5(1A)(d) and 5(1A)(e) 
			 AY 10 x .223 semi-automatic rifles/carbines 
			 AY 110 x Lightweight multiple launchers / 10 x vehicle missile launchers / 75 x automatic, semi-automatic rifles, Carbines / 25 machine guns / 15 grenade launchers / 2 x drill anti-tank weapons / 500 x shoulder launch aiming units 
			 AY No more than 500 in total x prohibited weapons and prohibited ammunition 
			 AY 5,000 x Automatic weapons of all types 
			 AY 1,000 x Semi-automatic (self-loading) rifles and carbines of all types 
			 AY 200 x Short-barrelled shotguns fed by slide, pump or lever action or by self-loading mechanism 
			 AY 50 x Rocket Launchers, grenade launchers or mortars of all types 
			 AY 2,000 x large and small calibre pistols and revolvers (handguns) of all types 
			 AY 100 x pistols under Section 5(1)(aba) 
			 AY No more than 10,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(a) / 600 x 5(1)(ab) / 6000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(aba) / 100 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ac) / 3,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ae) 
			 AY No more than 10,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(a) / 600 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ab) / 6,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(aba) / 100 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ac) / 3,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ae) 
			 AY No more than 75 x medium machine guns, submachine guns, light machine guns, heavy machine guns, automatic cannon, cannon, assault rifles/carbines, self-loading rifles/carbines, automatic rifles/carbines, pump action rifles/carbines 
			 AY 60 x Handguns (Cal. 2mm-27mm/.172-1") 
			 AY 45 x Shotguns (pump, revolver, semi-automatic, automatic) 
			 AY No more than 45 shotguns in total of the following types: pump, revolver, semi-automatic, automatic 
			 AY No more than 75 x medium machine guns, submachine guns, light machine guns, heavy machine guns, automatic cannon, cannon, assault rifles/carbines, self-loading rifles/carbines, automatic rifles/carbines, pump action rifles/carbines 
			 AY 10 x Derringer, 30 x handguns, 5 x machine pistols 
			 AY 12 x Weapons under Section 5(1)(a) / 12 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ab) / 12 x weapons under Section 5(1)(aba) 
			 AY No more than 200 x weapons under Section 5(1)(a), 5(1)(ab), 5(1)(ac), 5(1)(ad), 5(1)(ae) and 5(1A)(c) / No more than 150 x weapons under Section 5(1)(aba) 
			 AY No more than 10,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(a) / 600 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ab) / 6,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(aba) / 100 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ac) / 3,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ae) / 750 x anti-riot guns / 600,000 component parts for weapons under Section 5(1)(a) and 5(1)(aba) / 700,000 rounds of ammunition under Section 5(1A)(e) 
			 AY No more than 10,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(a) / 600 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ab) / 6,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(aba) / 100 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ac) / 3,000 x weapons under Section 5(1)(ae) / 750 x anti-riot guns / 600,000 component parts for weapons under Section 5(1)(a) and 5(1)(aba) / 700,000 rounds of ammunition under Section 5(1A)(e) 
			 AY 6,300 x 9mm pistols / 90,000 x rounds of 12.7mm ammunition 
			 AY 90 x 12.7mm machine guns / 85 x 7.62mm machine guns / 12 x 7.62mm sniper rifles 
			 AY Unlimited grenade launchers, anti-tank weapons, helicopter mounted missile launchers, air-to-air missiles, surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank missiles, shoulder launch aiming units and practice missiles 
			 AY 2 x Anti-tank weapons, 5 x close air defence missiles, 2,000 x anti-tank missiles, 500 x shoulder launch aiming units, 200 x surface-to-air missiles, 200 x practice missiles, 88 x helicopter mounted missile launchers, 100 x air-to-air missiles, 110 lightweight multiple launchers, 500 x shoulder launch anti-armour missiles, 40 x vehicle missile launchers, 2,600 x close air defence missile, 220 air-to-ground anti-armour missiles, 20 x disarmed sectioned missiles, 75 x automatic/semi-automatic rifles, 25 x machine guns, 15 x grenade launchers 
			 BG 200 x Shoulder launcher rockets 
			 BG 136 x Rocket propelled grenades / 3 x launchers 
			 BG 1 x Machine gun / 1 x submachine gun 
			 BG 200 x Shoulder launcher rockets 
			 BG 500 x Shoulder launched rockets 
			 BG 500 x Shoulder launched rockets 
			 BG 10 x 5.56x45mm "Arsenal" assault rifles 
			 HR 1,500 x Machine guns, assault rifles and submachine guns 
			 HR 5,000 x Component parts for Section 5(1)(a) 
			 HR 500 x Rocket launchers / 3,000 mortars 
			 HR 10,000 x Various machine guns / 2,500 various submachine guns 
			 HR 40,000 x Assault rifles 
			 HR 100 x Anti-aircraft systems 
			 HR 100 x Rocket launchers 
			 HR 20,000 x AK47 assault rifles 
			 RO 2 x M16 A2 assault rifles / 4 x M16MA4 assault rifles / 2 x Berettas / 1 x sniper rifle / 1 x Minimi machine gun 
			 RO 1 x Pump action shotgun / 2 x handguns 
			 RO 5 x Handguns / 1 x automatic rifle / 6 x bolt action single shot rifles 
			 RO 2 x H&K submachine guns / 5 x semi-automatic pistols / 1 x pump action shotgun 
			 RO 2 x MP5 submachine guns / 2 x UZI 9mm pistols / 1 Beretta 9mm submachine gun 
			 RO 1 x Walther PPK 1 x Glock 17 pistol / 2 x Colt 1911 pistols / 2 x H&K MPSKs 
			 RO 25 x RPG-7 rocket launchers / 25 x RPG-7 rocket launchers (paratrooper) / 25 x SVD 7.62x54 rifles 
			 RO 30 x AKM rifles / 50 x Dragunov 7.62x54 rifles / 6 x PKM machine guns / 15 x RPG-7 rocket launchers / 110 x RPG-7 rocket launchers Commander 5 / 1 x 60mm mortar / 1 x 81mm mortar / 1 x 120mm mortar 
			 SM 200 x Signal pistols / 50 machine guns 
			 SM 1 x Zastava M21 automatic rifle 
			 SM 600 Machine guns 
			 SM 1 x PKT machine gun / 2 x AKM assault rifles 
			 SM 5 x German MG42 light machine guns 7.92mm and 20 x spare barrels for same / 3 x German MG34 light machine guns 7.92mm and 20 x spare barrels for same 
			 SM 8 x Czech VZ27 7.65mm pistols / 9 x Belgian 1910/22 7.65mm pistols / 1 x German 7.65mm Mauser pistol / 1 x Polish Radom P-35 9mm pistol / 2 x German P-38 9mm pistols 
			 SM 50 x .50 CAL Browning M2HB / 200 x PPSH41 7.62 submachine guns / 100 x MG42 7.92 light machine guns / 20 x DP26 7.92 light machine guns 
			 UA 100 x Pistols / 580 x carbines 
			 UA 1,000 x Submachine guns 
			 UA 820 x Handguns / 400 x SVT 40 rifle 
			 UA 400 x 7.62mm SVT-40 rifles / 160 x 7.92mm Mausers K-98 / 84 x 7.92mm MG34 / 32 x 7.92mm MG42 / 400 x 11.43mm Thompson submachine guns 
			 UA 1,000 x 7.92mm Mauser K-98 / 500 x 7.62mm TT Pistol / 400 x 11.43mm Thompson submachine guns / 130 x 7.26mm Maxim machine gun 
			 UA 1,000 x 7.92mm MG34 / 1,000 x 9mm Walther P-38 / 1,000 x 11.43mm Thompson submachine guns 
			 XK 4 x laser emitting training weapons

Korea

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Department spent in each of the last five years building links between the UK and Korea with a focus on  (a) engineering,  (b) science and technology and  (c) innovation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The majority of the Department's expenditure on these subjects is allocated from the Science Budget to the UK Research Councils. In turn, the UK Research Councils allocate the majority of their funds in a "bottom-up" mode responding to the demand of the science community and making funding decisions on quality rather than international geographic focus. It is therefore not possible to provide exact figures on spending which relates to collaboration with Korea. However, there is active collaboration, supported by the Research Councils, in wide range of areas—including genome work, nano and bio-nanotechnology, sustainable development and energy technologies, ICT and mobile technologies and space science.
	The Office of Science and Innovation does have specific schemes to support links between UK and Korea in these areas which are administered by the Royal Society and which cost £400,000 from 2001-02 to 2005-06.

National Consumer Council

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  when the budget of the National Consumer Council for 2006-07 will be finalised; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the National Consumer Council's budget will be for 2006-07.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Due to the tight budgetary position this year it has taken longer than usual for the Department to set definitive budgets in all areas. The Department has now completed the exercise for prioritising our budget across objectives, and is working out 2006-07 final budgets for the individual recipients.
	In the case of the National Consumer Council, their budget includes funds from other sources as well as the Department. We will not settle the exact expenditure limit that we will apply to the Council until later this month.

Pressure Reduction Installation

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the safety of the proposed pressure reduction installation at Corse, Gloucestershire which is part of the Milford Haven to Tirley gas pipeline.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 11 September 2006
	None. The application for the pressure reduction installation at Corse falls on the local planning authority to determine under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Scientific Publication System

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he has made to the European Commission Study addressing Europe's scientific publication system; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Department hosted a presentation by the authors of the study on the economic and technical evolution of the scientific publications markets in Europe. The presentation was attended by key stakeholders and representatives of the UK research publications community, and provided an opportunity for them to express views on the recommendations.
	I am considering the recommendations of the Study and intend to send a response to the European Commission in due course.

Service Sector

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions  (a) he and  (b) his officials have had with trade union representatives on the impact of globalisation on service sector jobs in the UK.

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and his officials regularly meet union representatives to discuss a number of issues including the effects of globalisation.

Service Sector

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Department has made of the impact of globalisation on service sector jobs in the UK.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 September 2006
	In December 2003 the Department published a consultation document "Services & Offshoring: the Impact of International Competition in Services" which set out some of the possible impacts of offshoring on the UK services sector. This was followed by the 2004 DTI White Paper "Making Globalisation a Force for Good" and the accompanying DTI Economics paper "Liberalisation and Globalisation: Maximising the Benefits of International Trade and Investment". The conclusion was that globalisation should be positive for the UK economy in the long run, while acknowledging possible job losses in the short term.
	The DTI has also commissioned and published studies of the impact of globalisation on UK contact centres and the UK software and IT services sector. These are available on the DTI website.

UN Conference on Trade and Development

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of  (a) the UN Conference on Trade and Development annual report and  (b) its assessment of the Japanese and German trade surpluses.

Margaret Hodge: We welcome UNCTAD's annual report, which is broadly consistent with the UK's position on trade and development set out in the 2004 Trade and Investment White Paper "Making Globalisation a Force for Good".
	We share the concern that global imbalances may present a risk to world growth. However Germany and Japan's surpluses have been a long-standing feature of a growing and evolving world economy.

TREASURY

Arms Exports Controls

Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2006,  Official Report, column 426W, on arms exports controls, what estimate he has made of the number of unreported breaches of arms export controls.

John Healey: HMRC does not make systematic assessments of unreported breaches of arms export controls. However, HMRC does undertake risk-testing exercises that support our assessment that there is not widespread abuse of export controls and that UK exporters are broadly compliant.

Arms Exports Controls

Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2006,  Official Report, column 426W, on arms exports controls, what assessment he has made of the reason for the decline in the number of reported breaches of strategic export controls since 2000.

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs consider there to be a number of factors contributing to the decline in the number of reported breaches of strategic export controls since 2000. Firstly, at that time a large number of breaches related to trade sanctions on Angola and Iraq—these sanctions no longer apply. Secondly, controls on the export of off-road vehicles to the former Yugoslavia were discontinued in 2002. HMRC also assess that there is increased exporter compliance. Since 2000 the DTI, supported by HMRC and other Government Departments, have been very active in running national and regional seminars to increase exporter awareness of the controls. Additionally, DTI and HMRC supported a series of regional seminars run by the Defence Manufacturers Association prior to the introduction of the new Orders under the Export Control Act 2002.

Arms Exports Controls

Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2006,  Official Report, column 426W, on arms exports controls, what offence was committed in respect of each prosecution for breaches of strategic export controls since 2000 where proceedings are complete; and what punishment was imposed in each case.

John Healey: The details are provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Offence committed  Punishment imposed 
			 2001-02 Knowingly breaching the prohibition on the export of aluminium and other WMD related items to Pakistan 12 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years 
			 2003-04 Exporting aluminium to Pakistan without a licence Fined £1,000 
			 2004-05 Knowingly breaching the prohibition on the export of aircraft parts to Iran without a licence 18 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years; banned from being company director for 10 years; and asset forfeiture order for £69,980 
			 2005-06 Exporting body armour to Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia without a licence Fined £10,000 plus £500 costs 
			 2006-07 Exporting 3 consignments of body armour and helmets to Kuwait and Iraq during 2004 without a licence Fined £10,000 plus £1600 costs 
			  Exporting 10 consignments of military helmets and flak jackets to Kuwait for exporting to Iraq without a licence Fined £8,000 plus £500 costs

Breast Feeding

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with  (a) the Department of Health and  (b) the Department for Work and Pensions the construction of fiscal incentives to promote breast feeding in the first six months of a baby's life.

Edward Balls: The Government recognises breastfeeding as the best form of nutrition for infants. Departments will continue to keep under review policies to promote healthy outcomes for infants.
	The new Healthy Start scheme, that replaces the Welfare Food Scheme, provides for the first time equal benefits for both breastfeeding and bottlefeeding mothers.
	Infant formula is the sole source of nutrition for those infants who are not breastfed and it is therefore vital that this product is available at an affordable price. The Government recognise that women have a choice in how they feed their infant and seek to maximise nutritional outcomes for all infants.
	While the Government keeps all taxes under review, it is important to remember that there are other factors unrelated to price that will determine whether a mother chooses to breastfeed.

Cash Machines

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of Citizens' Advice's evidence to his Department on fee-charging cash machines.

Edward Balls: The Government take very seriously the issue of free access to cash, especially for those on low incomes. In July this year, the Citizens Advice Bureau published survey evidence on cash machine charging, titled "Out of Pocket". The working group on ATMs, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire, is looking at evidence from a range of stakeholders on the location and growth of free and surcharging ATMs, in order to reach a shared analysis on this issue. The Government look forward to seeing the recommendations of the ATM working group later in the year.

Cash Machines

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will work with the banking industry to raise the proportion of cash machines not charging a fee.

Edward Balls: The Government take seriously the issue of free access to cash, especially for those on low incomes. According to the latest figures from LINK, there are now more than 33,000 free ATMs in the UK, accounting for 96 per cent. of withdrawals made at ATMs. In the first quarter of 2006, there was a net increase of over 100 free ATMs.
	The working group on ATMs, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire , is expected to look at the evidence on the location and growth of free and surcharging ATMs, in order to reach a shared analysis on this issue. The Government look forward to seeing the recommendations of this group later in the year.

CHIEF Computer System

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the impact on private sector service providers of HM Revenue and Customs service helping importers and exporters to supply information to the CHIEF computer system.

John Healey: The CHIEF system has been HM Revenue and Customs' primary system for processing customs declarations on imports and exports since 1994. HM Revenue and Customs provide a variety of electronic communications channels to enable importers and exporters to make customs declarations to the CHIEF service.
	HMRC have an extensive and ongoing consultation process with stakeholders including importers, exporters, software suppliers, community service providers, logistics operators and freight carriers to help understand the full impact of all potential changes relating to the provision of information to the CHIEF service. Where appropriate, full regulatory impact assessments are carried out on proposed changes to the system.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 3 August 2006, regarding a constituent, reference 5/01238/2006.

Edward Balls: I have replied to my hon. Friend.

Departmental Capability Review

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the departmental capability review for HM Treasury will be published.

Edward Balls: Any announcement on the Treasury's participation in the departmental capability review will be made in due course.

Departmental Contracts

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of his Department's contracts with  (a) ER Consultants and  (b) Praesta in each of the last three years; and which Ministers have made use of the services in each case.

John Healey: No contracts have been awarded by the Treasury to ER Consultants during the last three financial years. Payments of £29,326 excluding VAT were made to Praesta Partners in 2005-06 in connection with the training of departmental officials.
	Our records show that Treasury Ministers have not made use of the services of either company.

Energy Efficiency (Information & Support to Business)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of meetings held by the group examining the provision of information and support on energy efficiency to business chaired by the Financial Secretary and Mr. Richard Ellis.

John Healey: Budget 2006 announced that Richard Ellis and I would co-chair a group to examine how best to provide information and support to business on energy efficiency. The meetings of this group represent part of the ongoing process of policy development, the outcome of which will be reflected in any future policy announcements on this area. As such, it would not be appropriate to place copies of the minutes of these meetings in the Library.

Export Controls

Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2006,  Official Report, column 426W, what percentage of breaches of export control legislation involved goods that would have been granted an export licence had the exporter applied for one in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Estimates of the percentage of breaches of export control legislation involving goods that would have been granted an export licence, had the exporter applied for one, in each of the last five years are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2000-01 80 
			 2001-02 88 
			 2002-03 92 
			 2003-04 84 
			 2004-05 83

Fuel Duties

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of fuel duty is per litre for  (a) petrol and  (b) diesel; and what the level would be if the fuel duty escalator had been retained.

John Healey: The current level of duty for ultra low sulphur petrol and diesel is 47.1p per litre.
	The fuel duty escalator was introduced in 1993 and removed in 1999.
	If the fuel duty escalator had been retained and (1) fuel duty had increased the escalator by 6 per cent. in real terms at every Budget and (2) there had been no reduction in fuel duty of 3p per litre in 2000 for the introduction of ultra low sulphur petrol and diesel, then fuel duty for ULSP and ULSD would currently be 83.91p per litre.
	Further information on current and historical duty rates for petrol and diesel can be found in table 4 of the HM Revenue and Customs "Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin", which can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website:
	http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullhydro

Gross Domestic Product

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product he expects net taxes and national insurance contributions, less North sea revenues, to be in 2007-08; and what the equivalent percentage was in each of the last 30 years.

Edward Balls: Data on net taxes and national insurance contributions and North sea revenues as a percentage of GDP back to 1973-74 and Budget 2006 projections for 2007-08 can be found in table C1 of the Public Finances Databank (available on the web at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and tools/finance_spending_statistics/pubsec_finance/psf_statistics.cfm).

HM Revenue and Customs (Tribunals)

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance is issued by his Department to individuals and businesses who were successful in tribunal cases against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and where HMRC is appealing that decision to the High Court.

John Healey: None. It is the responsibility of the Tribunal to provide guidance in these circumstances.

HM Revenue and Customs (Tribunals)

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of appeal cases made by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to the High Court against Tribunal decisions of General Commissioners was in each of the last five years; and what revenue was obtained as a result of decisions made in favour of HMRC.

John Healey: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HM Revenue and Customs (Tribunals)

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of appeal against Tribunal decisions of General Commissioners were made by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to the High Court in each of the last five years; how many of these cases were heard; and in how many such cases the decision was made in favour of HMRC.

John Healey: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Home Working

John Leech: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy is on encouraging working from home through tax incentives to employers and employees to reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with journeys to and from work.

Edward Balls: The Government believe that flexible working is good for both business and families. Business may draw on a wider pool of skills and talents, improve recruitment and retention rates and increase staff morale and productivity. Employees may find working hours to match their family caring responsibilities and spend more time with their children.
	The Government introduced a new right to request flexible working for parents of children under six and disabled children in 2003 and will extend this to carers of adults from next April. There is no tax charge where an employee works regularly at home under agreed flexible working arrangements and his or her employer reimburses their additional costs of working at home.

Immigrant Workers

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the estimate is of the number of immigrant workers from Eastern European accession countries who are claiming tax credit in the UK; what the cost of such payments to public funds was in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people claimed tax credits for their children living outside the United Kingdom in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05 and  (c) 2005-06; and what the cost was to the Exchequer in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: A quarterly report, last produced on 22 August 2006 by the Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs and Department for Communities and Local Government is published on the Home Office immigration and nationality directorate's website, http://www.ind. home office.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/accession_monitoring_ report, and provides detailed information including the number of workers from the new member states of the EU who are claiming tax credits.
	The other information is not available.

Immigrant Workers

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether migrant workers from Bulgaria and Romania will be eligible for tax credits if they were permitted to enter the UK to work after those countries joined the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: No date has been set for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria. Once that decision is made, member states will decide on what access to labour markets they will give to Romania and Bulgaria.

Immigrant Workers

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the decision was taken to allow migrant workers coming to the UK to claim tax credits for family members living abroad; what criteria govern such payments; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Benefits including the child tax credit for workers' families is governed by European Community (EC) law, which have been in place since the UK joined the European Economic Community in 1973.

Income Inequality

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what levels of income inequality were in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2006; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: There is no single measure or source of data on household income inequality.
	However, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the DWP publication "Households Below Average Income" and the ONS publication "The Effects of Taxes and Benefits on Household Income, 2004-05".

International Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether countries other than the UK and France have committed themselves to the IFF, as distinct from the IFFIm; what commitment to date extends only to a working group charged with considering feasibility; and on what dates that working group has met.

Edward Balls: France and the UK agreed at the Paris conference on innovative financing in March jointly to establish a working group to consider the implementation of an IFF going to health and education and funded by an air ticket levy as well as by other revenues from the Landau report. Discussions with the French and other countries have continued including on broader innovative financing mechanisms and on initiatives such as UNITAID and AMCs.

Kettering Borough Council

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conclusions were drawn by Treasury officials from their recent visit to Kettering borough council about the local implementation of the sustainable communities programme.

Edward Balls: As part of its evidence gathering and analysis phase, officials from the Supporting Housing Growth Review team, along with officials from DCLG and other key infrastructure departments, have conducted a series of case study workshops with officials from local authorities across the country. The visit to North Northamptonshire was one of these visits. The review will report to Treasury Ministers as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Land Use Planning

Paul Truswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which representatives of  (a) business,  (b) community groups and  (c) non-government organisations the Barker Review Team (i) met and (ii) received representations from during the compilation of its interim report on land use planning.

Edward Balls: The full list of representatives can be found on page 181 in annex A of the Barker Review of Land Use Planning interim report. This can be found on the Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent reviews/ barker_review_land_use_planning/barkerreview_land_use_planning_index.cfm

Land Use Planning

Paul Truswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he has made for consultation on the interim Barker Report on land use planning; and whether Cabinet Office guidance on consultation will apply to these arrangements.

Edward Balls: Her Majesty's Treasury have not arranged any consultation on Ms Barker's interim report on land use planning. A formal consultation was carried out as part of Kate Barker's independent Review of Land Use Planning during January-March 2006. The interim report published on 4 July sets out Ms Barker's analysis to date and is not a consultation document. However, it is understood that Ms Barker is still welcoming views and has proposed a deadline for those views of 19 September 2006.

North Sea Revenues

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the latest forecasts are for North sea revenue for each year to 2010-11  (a) as a percentage of gross domestic product,  (b) in cash terms and  (c) in real terms on 2006 prices; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: Projections for North sea revenues can be found in Tables C8 and C9 of Budget 2006.

Parliamentary Questions

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead regarding the tax credits of his constituent Mr. Delaney.

Dawn Primarolo: My right hon. Friend wrote to me on 22 June 2005 and HM Revenue and Customs responded on my behalf on 18 August 2005.
	There has been no further correspondence between myself and my right hon. Friend regarding his constituent.

Public Sector Pensions

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to paragraph 36 of the Note by the Government Actuary's Department and HM Treasury, Unfunded Public Service Pension Schemes: 2005 Cash Flow Projections Assumptions and Data, June 2006, what estimate he has made of the cash inflows that will arise from member contributions, expressed as a percentage of GDP.

John Healey: Full estimates of the size of cash inflows that will arise from member contributions are in the process of being developed, and are not yet available.

Public Sector Pensions

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the deficit in public sector pension funds; what the estimate was 12 months before; and which five funds have the largest estimated deficits.

John Healey: The latest available estimate of the total liabilities of unfunded public service occupational pension schemes was set out in the note from HM Treasury, "Total liability of unfunded public service occupational pension schemes as at March 2005", a copy of which was placed in the House of Commons Library on 2 March 2006.

Public Service Agreements

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how many spending review (SR) 2002 public service agreement (PSA) targets his Department received summary assessments in the latest autumn performance reports, expressed as a proportion of the total number of SR 2002 PSA targets.

Edward Balls: Due to data lags and the fact that some targets have an end date in the future, a full tally is not yet possible.

Red Diesel

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made in the negotiations to extend the derogation from the EU for the use of red diesel for marine uses.

John Healey: In line with the timetable set out by the European Commission, the UK will be submitting in October a formal application for renewal of the derogation enabling pleasure boats to use red diesel. This application will be informed by the case that the Government set out in the partial RIA published at the Budget and is continuing to build with the cooperation of the boating industry.

Standard Life

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether  (a) his Department and  (b) the Financial Services Authority undertook monitoring of the recent demutualisation ballot conducted by Standard Life.

Edward Balls: The process of demutualisation in any organisation will be based on their specific rules, articles of memorandum as well as the legislative framework under which they operate.
	These requirements will be binding on all members who will normally have the opportunity to vote on the proposals.
	The Standard Life demutualisation ballot was conducted in accordance with their existing regulations and guidance on voting was given in the Proposal for members and policyholders.
	The Treasury is not responsible for or involved in the conduct of such votes; however the FSA in its role as regulator reviewed the Proposal for regulatory compliance. The fairness of the Proposal was checked by an independent expert appointed to report to the court.

Tax Credits

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total amount of  (a) working tax credit and  (b) child tax credit erroneously paid to prisoners due to (i) fraud, (ii) customer error and (iii) official error in each year where figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested is not available.

Tax Relief

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief was claimed by employers who have seconded employees to schools in each year since 1997.

Edward Balls: There is no centrally available information on which to base an estimate of the total value of this relief.

Treasury Spending Teams

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to paragraph 5.6 of the Departmental Report, what the Treasury spending teams are; and how many people were employed in each of them at the end of  (a) the 2004-05 and  (b) the 2005-06 financial years.

John Healey: The Treasury Spending Teams monitor departmental spending along with service delivery and provide advice to Treasury Ministers on any matters arising. The number of people employed in spending teams in 2004-05 was 143 and in 2005-06 148.
	Further details on Treasury Spending Teams can be found on its organisational chart, which can be accessed online at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk .

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to ensure that UK troops in Helmand Province are fully equipped for operating effectively in the winter.

Des Browne: holding answer 11 September 2006
	As I announced to the House on 10 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1133WS, 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines will replace 16 Air Assault Brigade as the Helmand taskforce this winter. The Brigade is the UK's only specialist mountain and cold weather brigade. It is fully trained and equipped for this role and has considerable personal and collective experience of winter and mountain operations.
	In addition to the normal temperate and desert issue equipment, brigade personnel have been issued with a winter supplement, based on those specialist items that would normally be used during winter training in Norway. The key items are cold weather boots and socks, inner and outer winter gloves and a winter sleeping bag. Should the nature of the operations require additional specialist winter equipment in order to support particular operational requirements, these can be drawn on by the in-theatre HQ.

Afghanistan

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the loss of the RAF Nimrod in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The loss of an RAF Nimrod MR2 in Afghanistan on 2 September, and the tragic loss of life of the 14 military personnel on board, is currently being investigated. The factors leading to the loss of the aircraft cannot be confirmed until the investigation is concluded, but all the indications are that it was not the result of hostile action. The incident serves to remind us of the risks that our military personnel are facing on behalf of us all, and the debt that we owe them.

Correspondence

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed's letters of 1 December 2005 and 28 February 2006 concerning replacement documents for a constituent's late husband's war service (MoD Ref: 05651/2005).

Des Browne: holding answer 11 September 2006
	My hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson), wrote to the right hon. Gentleman on 24 August. This regrettable delay was because it took much longer than expected to trace the necessary documents.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual expenditure on vehicles for  (a) his Department and  (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005-06.

Derek Twigg: Expenditure on the purchase or hire of vehicles for the movement of personnel and freight for administrative purposes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   England, Scotland and Wales  Northern Ireland  Total 
			 2003-04 85.4 4.2 89.6 
			 2004-05 85.2 5.5 90.7 
			 2005-06 89.2 4.2 93.4 
		
	
	These figures reflect activity by the Defence Logistics Organisation, who account for the majority of MOD vehicle expenditure, and Headquarters Northern Ireland. Some other expenditure is incurred locally, but could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Most vehicles are operated under lease or short-term hire arrangements.
	For details of expenditure on ministerial vehicles provided to the MOD by the Government Car and Despatch Agency, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the letter of 20 December 2005 from the chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). Copies of the letter are available in the Library.
	Data for 2002-03 and a further breakdown by agency or public body and region are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Emergency Fire Cover

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fire appliances the armed forces own, broken down by age; and how many could be used to provide emergency fire cover for the general population in the event of a strike by firefighters.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence owns a total number of 216 fire appliances. Of these 79 are Major Foam Airfield Crash Vehicles (MFV) and 82 are Rapid Intervention Airfield Crash Vehicles (RTV). There are also 55 Domestic Vehicles which are used to tackle fires in buildings and other parts of the Defence Estate and are similar to those operated by local authority fire and rescue services.
	The ages of the vehicles are as follows:
	
		
			   Age by years  
			  Vehicle type  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  13  14  16  20  22  Total 
			 MFV 0 0 0 2 18 15 14 26 4 0 0 0 0 0 79 
			 RIV 0 0 3 17 23 19 15 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 82 
			 Domestic 1 19 0 8 0 2 7 0 0 5 5 5 1 2 55 
		
	
	All fire appliances owned by the Ministry of Defence are there to support armed forces operational activity and could not be assigned to provide emergency cover in the event of a strike by firefighters whether on a national or local basis.

Hercules Aircraft

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) C130K and  (b) C130J Hercules aircraft are based at RAF Lyneham; how many Hercules are fit for purpose; how many Hercules are deployed (i) in Iraq, (ii) in Afghanistan, (iii) to Cyprus and Lebanon and (iv) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There are a total of 24 C130Ks and 25 C130J Hercules aircraft based at RAF Lyneham of which a number are deployed to operational theatres. I am withholding information about how many Hercules aircraft are deployed to which operational theatre, as this might prejudice the operational security of our armed forces.
	The average year to date fit for purpose figures as at August 2006 are 11 for the C130K aircraft and 16 for the C130J Hercules aircraft.
	Aircraft are deemed fit for purpose if they are capable of undertaking the required task on a given day. Aircraft are not available for tasking if they are undergoing scheduled maintenance, modification programmes or any unforeseen rectification work that can arise on a day-to-day basis. The figures do not reflect the fact that an aircraft assessed as not fit for purpose may be returned to the front line at very short notice to meet the operational need.

Infantry Soldiers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of infantry soldiers come from  (a) Muslim and  (b) ethnic minority backgrounds.

Derek Twigg: As at 1 June 2006, the percentage of UK Regular Army Infantry Soldiers that have recorded Muslim as their religion is 0.2 per cent.
	As at 1 April 2006, the percentage of UK Regular Army Infantry Soldiers that come from an ethnic minority background is 8.5 per cent.
	UK Regular Army excludes Full Time Reserve Service Personnel, Gurkhas, the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. It includes trained and untrained personnel.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's policy is on UK troops remaining in Iraq after all provinces controlled by the UK are handed over to the Iraqi Government; what information has been issued to the media on the UK's plans; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 11 September 2006
	As we have consistently made clear, coalition troops will remain in Iraq until the conditions for drawdown are right. The transfer of provincial security responsibility to the Iraqi Security Forces—while an important step—will not necessarily result in the complete withdrawal of UK troops. Coalition troops will need to remain in Iraq for some period after provincial transfer to continue training and mentoring of the Iraqi Security Forces, and to assist with the provision of security until we, the Iraqi Government, and our coalition partners are confident that the Iraqi Security Forces can operate without our support.
	MOD regularly provides the media with briefing about the Department's role in Iraq.

Operation Herrick

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which parent unit the members of the composite company of the Royal Rifle Volunteers shortly to be deployed on Operation Herrick are from, broken down by  (a) rank and  (b) company.

Adam Ingram: The composite company of the Royal Rifle Volunteers deploying on Operation Herrick broken down by parent unit, company and rank is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Parent unit/company  Maj  Lt  2Lt  WO2  SSgt  Sgt  Cpl  LCpl  Pte 
			 4 YORKS — — — — — — 2 — — 
			 RGBW(1) A Coy — 1 — 1 — 1 2 3 8 
			 R WxY(2) B Sqn — — — — — — — — 1 
			 R WxY C Sqn — — — — — — — — 1 
			 R WxY D Sqn — — — — — — — 1 1 
			 R WxY — — — — — — — 1 1 
			 Somerset LI B Coy 1 1 1 1 — — 4 5 9 
			 D and D(3) C Coy — — — — — — 1 1 6 
			 D and D E Coy — 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Cornwall LI D Coy — — 1 — 1 1 2 2 11 
			 RGJ(4) E Coy — — — — — — — — 1 
			 RGJ G Coy — — — — 1 — — 1 6 
			 HAC(5) — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 RRV(6) — — — — — — — — 2 
			 Rifle Vols — 1 — — 1 — 2 4 5 
			 HLDRS(7) — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 (1) Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire (2) Royal Wessex Yeomanry (3) Devon and Dorset (4) Royal Green Jackets (5) Honourable Artillery Company (6) Royal Rifle Volunteers (7) Highlanders. This individual is a Regular Reservist

Peacekeeping (UN and NATO)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of  (a) UN peacekeeping troops and  (b) NATO operationally deployed troops come from the British armed forces.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 24 July 2006
	The UN publishes details of troop contributions to UN missions on its website at www.un.org/depts/dpko/dpko/contributors. I am placing a copy in the Library of the House.
	On 10 August 2006 the deployment of UK service personnel on NATO operations was:
	
		
			  Country  All services 
			 ISAF (Afghanistan) 4,360 
			 Balkans 180 
			 Iraq 20 
			  Notes:  1. Data are rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent disclosure of sensitive information.  2. Figures include mobilised reservists.  3. ISAF (International Security Assistance Force).  4. Figures for the total NATO strength are not held centrally and it is therefore not possible to show these figures as a proportion of the total force. 
		
	
	Information on the deployment of the British armed forces can also be found in the MOD annual report and accounts 2005-06, copies of which are held in the House of Commons Library.

Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the roles are of the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) battalions; which roles will be taken up by other regiments or battalions on disbandment; and which roles will no longer be carried out.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) battalions, like their predecessors, the Ulster Defence Regiment, were raised specifically for operations in support of the police in Northern Ireland known as Operation Banner.
	Over the years they have played a crucial role in creating the environment which led to the announcement on 1 August 2005 of the start of the process of normalisation which will see the end of Operation Banner on 31 July 2007. With the police no longer needing routine military support, the three Home Service battalions will have successfully completed the tasks for which they were raised and will disband.
	The revised Security Annex to the Joint Declaration makes it clear that, assuming the maintenance of an enabling environment, Army support to the police after 31 July 2007, will reduce to a residual level, e.g. in providing specialised ordnance disposal and support for public order as described in Patten recommendations 59 and 66, should this be needed.

UN Missions

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops have been involved in UN missions in each year since 1995.

Adam Ingram: The UN publishes details of troop contributions to UN missions on its website at www.un.org/depts/dpko/dpko/contributors. I am placing a copy in the Library of the House. Data prior to 2000 are not currently available on the website. Nor are they it held centrally by the Ministry of Defence, and are they could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

W Company, 45 Commando

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of W Company, 45 Commando, shortly to be deployed to Afghanistan were serving in the company on an established Line Serial Number two months before deployment.

Adam Ingram: The established Line Serial Number for W Company 45 Commando Royal Marines is 78 personnel for their conventional role. But 45 Commando are not deploying to Afghanistan as a Battle Group: they have a number of individual roles for which they have been specifically reorganised. W Coy restructured in early July 2006 and now comprises 100 individuals. The majority of the Coy have been training for an operational deployment since Easter 2006; and all personnel undertake legally mandated pre-deployment training including the five members who joined the company two months before the deployment. They will conduct individual replacement training next week.

W Company, 45 Commando

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of W Company, 45 Commando or currently attached to W Company for the duration of the deployment shortly to be deployed to Afghanistan are members of the Royal Navy, not including Royal Marines.

Adam Ingram: There are currently no Royal Navy personnel serving with or attached to W Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines. W Company, who are deploying to Afghanistan, comprise Royal Marine personnel, one Army Captain and one RAF Regiment Troop Sergeant.

WALES

Computing Equipment

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) USB (i) flash drives and (ii) memory sticks,  (b) compact discs,  (c) DVD-ROM discs,  (d) laptop computers,  (e) external computer hard drives,  (f) internal computer hard drives and  (g) desktop computers were purchased for use in his Department in each month since March 2005.

Peter Hain: Under the machinery of government change, in June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA); and IT equipment is provided through the DCA contract in line with the government private finance initiative. Through this contract we have been supplied with four laptop computers since March 2005, three of which were supplied in November 2005 and one in August 2006. The Wales Office has purchased one memory stick in July 2006, and all other equipment is covered by the DCA IT contract.

IT Contracts

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the value was of each IT contract awarded by his Department in each of the last five years; and who the contractor was in each case.

Peter Hain: The National Assembly of Wales provided information technology support service functions to the Wales Office until 31 March 2004. Under the machinery of government changes, the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA); and has adopted their contract set-up, Liberate UK, who provide all office requirements in line with the government private finance initiative. The Wales Office has therefore not awarded any IT contracts during this period.

IT Contracts

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which IT contracts awarded by his Department in each of the last five years have been abandoned; and what the value was in each case.

Peter Hain: The National Assembly of Wales provided information technology support service functions to the Wales Office until 31 March 2004. Under the machinery of government changes in 2003, the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), and has adopted their contract set-up, Liberate UK, who provide all office requirements in line with the government private finance initiative. The Wales Office has neither awarded nor abandoned any IT contracts.

Security Passes

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many security passes have been reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen by staff in his Department by year since February 2004.

Peter Hain: No security passes have been reported lost or stolen in that time.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Drink-driving Offences

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps he is taking to ensure that the Crown Prosecution Service effectively prosecute individuals accused of drink driving offences.

Mike O'Brien: Crown prosecutors carefully consider all the evidence and rigorously apply the Code for Crown Prosecutors. In reaching a charging decision they ensure that the statutory obligations of disclosure are met and that proceedings are expedited. Drink driving cases can raise challenging questions of law and procedure. Frontline prosecutors are provided with detailed and up to date guidance. The DPP has recently reminded CPS prosecutors to exercise particular care in ensuring that those who drive dangerously are charged with driving dangerously, rather than the lesser charge of careless driving. This is particularly important in cases where a victim has died.
	Information taken from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform shows that for England and Wales in 2004 (latest available) there were 107,091 proceedings for offences of driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, of which there were 96,240 findings of guilt, a conviction rate of 90 per cent.

Law Students

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Solicitor-General 
	(1)  what discussions he and his officials have had with the Department for Education and Skills about support the Department offers to mature law students to assist them in finding a training contract;
	(2)  what recent discussions he and his officials have had with the Law Society regarding funding and assistance for mature law students to enable them to complete a legal practice course.

Mike O'Brien: None.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Chartered Psychologists

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what use the Department makes of chartered psychologists for training; and what the value is of her Department's contracts with  (a) ER Consultants and  (b) Praesta in each of the last three years.

Patrick McFadden: The Cabinet Office co-ordinates development coaching for all Cabinet Office Senior Civil Servants. It also co-ordinates a Civil Service-wide High Potential Development Scheme for all Senior Civil Servants. In both cases, chartered psychologists are used as coaches and at team development events.
	The following table shows the value of the Department's contracts with ER Consultants and Praesta in each of the last three years.
	
		
			  £ 
			   ER Consultants  Praesta 
			 2003-04(1) 0 0 
			 2004-05(1) 0 0 
			 2005-06(1) 264.36 50,348.75 
			 (1) Dates refer to financial year rather than calendar years.

Disabled Staff

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was paid to the Cabinet Office from the Access to Work Scheme for adjustments for disabled staff in the last year for which figures are available; from what budget she plans to meet the costs of reasonable adjustments for disabled staff following withdrawal of Access to Work funding for central Government Departments; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Armstrong: In the last year Cabinet Office has used the Access to Work Scheme twice. This includes use of the Fares to Work provision for which there is an ongoing annual cost. Costs for the Access to Work provisions are met by the management units employing those disabled staff but those costs are not monitored or held centrally.
	Future costs for reasonable adjustments after the withdrawal of Access to Work will continue to be met by management units and, where necessary, centrally.
	The Cabinet Office is committed to making reasonable adjustments for staff and this will be an explicit point within the Department's Disability Equality Scheme which my officials are currently preparing and which will be published by December 2006.

Public Sector Information

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how she plans to maximise the re-use for commercial purposes of public sector information by third parties.

Edward Miliband: The regulations on the re-use of public sector information provide a legal framework that encourages the re-use of public sector information. Furthermore, the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) has developed a number of initiatives to ensure that the regulations do not create any barriers to the re-use of public sector information.
	For example it has introduced the Click-Use Licence which is an online licence that allows the re-use of a wide range of public sector information with the minimum of administration.
	OPSI has also introduced the Information Fair Trader Scheme which sets and assesses standards for public sector organisations. It requires them to encourage the re-use of information and reach a standard of fairness and transparency.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Building Regulations

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many prosecutions have been launched in respect of non-compliance with the thermal efficiency requirements of the building regulations in each of the last 10 years; and how many convictions were secured.

Angela Smith: Prosecutions relating to non-compliance with the Building Regulations are pursued by local government and there is no central register of prosecutions.

Building Regulations

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment she has  (a) made and  (b) evaluated of the proportion of homes constructed in the last 10 years which did not comply with building regulations in respect of their thermal efficiency; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the potential for improved training, monitoring and enforcement within the construction industry to raise levels of compliance with Part L of the building regulations; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government commissioned surveys of the implementation of the energy efficiency amendments that came into effect in 1995 and 2002. The results of tests carried out on 154 dwellings built to the 2002 standards were taken into account in developing the amendment that came into effect in April 2006.
	In line with the commitment made in the 2003 Energy White Paper to find ways of improving compliance the Department began in July 2005 the largest programme of dissemination and training ever undertaken. This work will continue with further initiatives to improve knowledge and understanding and engagement with building control bodies and other stakeholders on how best to measure impact.

Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford transferred to her Department by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 July regarding his constituents Mr. Forrester, Mrs. Dixty and Mr. Seal.

Yvette Cooper: A reply was sent to the hon. Gentleman on 3 August 2006.

East of England Regional Assembly

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the total expenses paid to the representatives serving on the East of England Regional Assembly were in each of the past three financial years;
	(2)  what the individual salaries are of  (a) the chief executive and  (b) senior management personnel of the East of England Regional Assembly.

Yvette Cooper: The requested information is not held centrally. Details of individual salaries and expenses are matters for the regional assembly which is a voluntary body.

East of England Regional Assembly

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the projected administrative budget is for the East of England Regional Assembly for  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08;
	(2)  what the total administrative costs were of the East of England Regional Assembly in each of the past three financial years.

Yvette Cooper: Details of the East of England Regional Assembly's administration budget are not held centrally. Following is a table detailing DCLG grant to the East of England Regional Assembly for the period requested. The assembly receives funding from other sources.
	
		
			  East of England Regional Assembly 
			   Total ODPM/DCLG funding (£) 
			 2003-04 1,874,000 
			 2004-05 2,112,000 
			 2005-06 2,112,000 
			 2006-07 2,353,000 
			 2007-08 (1)— 
			 (1) Allocations are not yet decided for 2007-08

Energy Efficiency

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to extend the requirement for buildings undergoing major renovation to upgrade their energy efficiency to include buildings under 1,000 square metres.

Angela Smith: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The amendment to Building Regulations in April 2006 includes a requirement to improve the energy performance of existing buildings over 1,000m(2) as a consequence of undertaking certain types of building work. Last September Government announced that this requirement to make 'consequential improvements' in buildings below 1,000m(2) would not be included in the 2006 amendments to Part L of the building regulations. Instead we announced a review to consider all possible measures to increase the sustainability of existing buildings. This review is under way and will conclude later this year.

English Partnerships

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what English Partnerships' planned programme expenditure is in  (a) the North East,  (b) the North West,  (c) Yorkshire and Humberside,  (d) the East Midlands,  (e) the West Midlands,  (f) the East of England,  (g) London,  (h) the South East and  (i) the South West in 2006-07.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships' gross expenditure by Government office region for 2006-07 is estimated as set out in the following table.
	
		
			   2006-07 
			   Budget (£ million)  Percentage 
			 East Midlands 47 8 
			 East of England 37 6 
			 London 53 9 
			 North East 34 6 
			 North West 85 15 
			 South East 107 19 
			 South West 36 6 
			 West Midlands 22 4 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 36 6 
			 National 116 20 
			 EP Total 573 100 
			  Note: The "national" line shows EP's expenditure on the two national programmes involving former hospital sites and the first time buyers initiative. The precise spread of investment is yet to be finalised and therefore cannot be included in the regional figures.

English Partnerships

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what her plans are for the percentage of the programme expenditure of English Partnerships to be spent in the South of England over the next five years; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what English Partnerships' planned programme of expenditure is in  (a) the north and  (b) the south of England in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships (EP) is a national agency in England and the operational distribution of its programme expenditure is decided by its board according to national delivery priorities in their annual corporate plan as approved by Ministers. EP's future national programme and priorities are currently under consideration as part of the current corporate planning round for the financial years 2006-07 to 2010-11. Funding for EP's programmes for 2008-09 to 2010-11 will be decided after the Spending Review 2007 settlement.
	EP's gross expenditure for 2006-07 including the spread of expenditure across the North and the South of England is estimated as set out in the following table.
	
		
			   2006-07 
			   Budget (£ million)  Percentage 
			 North including Midlands 224 39 
			 South 233 41 
			 Other National 116 20 
			 EP Total 573 100 
			  Notes: 1. For the purposes of this answer the South of England includes South East, East, South West of England and London, with other regions taken to mean the North of England. 2. The "national" line shows EP's expenditure on the two national programmes involving former hospital sites and the first time buyers initiative. The precise spread of investment is not yet finalised and therefore cannot be included in the regional figures.

Housing

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what further measures her Department is considering to improve the sustainability of existing homes; and whether she plans to introduce new planning guidance to promote micro-generation.

Angela Smith: DCLG is leading a review of the sustainability of existing buildings, involving other Government Departments and key stakeholders. This review is considering a wide range of regulatory and non-regulatory options, including the use of incentives, to reduce water use and energy consumption, and to promote the installation of micro-generation.
	In addition, we are also working on proposals that would aim to promote further take-up of micro-generation by removing the need to apply for planning permission for certain types of installation.
	Planning authorities are already expected to include policies in their development plans that require a percentage of the energy in new developments to come from on-site renewables. Later this year we will consult on the draft of a new Planning Policy Statement on climate change.

Local Government Finance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the financial impact on local authorities of providing transport and facilitating placements for individuals with autistic spectrum disorders and their families; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally. Financial information regularly collected from local authorities is not broken down into such detail to be able to estimate these costs.

Local Government Finance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will amend the criteria for determining central Government grant to local authorities to take account of the costs associated with supporting individuals with autistic spectrum disorders and their families; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Formula grant is largely based on relative needs formulae, together with the number of band-D equivalent properties in its area. We then ensure that every authority receives at least a minimum percentage increase (the 'floor') year-on-year on a like-for-like basis i.e. after adjusting for changes in funding and function. In order to pay for this we scale back the increases above the floor.
	Relative needs formulae take into account the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of authorities. One of these formulae is for children's social care. The formula is based on extensive research and has a solid evidence base. It draws on evidence from the 2003 Children in Need census. This is the largest source of information on children's social service activity in England. It contains information from almost every council who provide children's social care. Therefore children with autistic spectrum disorders included in the 2003 Children in Need census are included in the evidence base used to derive the existing formula.

Local Government Finance

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will increase the limit for capitalisation of local government spending from that announced at the Capital Programme Working Party on 26 May.

Phil Woolas: We have no plans to increase the limit for capitalisation of local government spending from that announced at the Capital Programmes Working Party. Local authority capitalisation presents a significant risk to the prudent management of national fiscal rules and needs to be managed closely.

Local Government Finance

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the merits of introducing a system of business rates linked to profitability; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Any reforms to business rates fall with the remit of Sir Michael Lyons independent inquiry into the role and funding of local government. The Government will not take any decisions on changes to local government finance until they have had the chance to consider and reflect on Sir Michael's report and recommendations.

Local Government Finance

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many companies  (a) failed and  (b) reduced operations in the UK in each of the last five years because of problems paying business rates.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally.

Local Government Officers (Political Activity)

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the outcome was of consultation on the removal of bans on political activity by local government officers; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Our discussion paper, "Standards of Conduct in English Local Government", published on 15 December 2005, reported the outcome of our consultation about the regulatory framework governing the political activities of local government employees, and made proposals for the future which we are committed to take forward. A copy of the discussion paper is available in the Library of the House. It can also be viewed on the Department's website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1162582.

Local Government Officers (Political Activity)

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the impact of barriers for members of political parties to participate in local and community governance.

Phil Woolas: We are committed to increasing opportunities for people everywhere to participate in local and community governance. The Local Government White Paper, which we intend to publish shortly after the recess, will discuss issues of empowerment and governance and make proposals for the future.

Ordnance Survey

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with the Office of Public Sector Information concerning Ordnance Survey.

Angela Smith: As a Trading Fund, Ordnance Survey is accredited to the Information Fair Trader Scheme (IFTS) managed by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI). OPSI has published two reports concerning Ordnance Survey in the past six months—one confirming Ordnance Survey's accreditation to the IFTS and one reporting on an investigation into a specific complaint against Ordnance Survey.
	OPSI and Ordnance Survey officials are in regular dialogue in respect of a wide range of issues relating to Ordnance Survey's delegated authority to administer Crown copyright in respect of mapping and geographic information. These meetings have covered matters arising from the two recent reports. Ordnance Survey continues to take steps to widen the use of its maps and data in both public and private sectors.

Regional Control Centre

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what costs have been incurred in connection with the Regional Control Centre at Fareham in each year since 2001; and how much is estimated to be spent in  (a) 2006-07,  (b) 2007-08 and  (c) 2008-09.

Angela Smith: Figures for costs incurred since 2001 in connection with the Regional Control Centre at Fareham are not available, as the business case and accounts for the FiReControl project are maintained at a national level.
	The department gives grants to individual Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) under new burdens to reimburse the costs associated with implementing FiReControl. Fire and Rescue Service Circulars 59-2004 and 63-2005 explain this process and detail the figures for FRAs in the South East for financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively. These documents can be found on the department's website under fire circulars: www.communities.gov.uk/firecirculars. The figures for 2008-09 are currently being considered and an FRS Circular detailing them will be published in due course.

Social Housing

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what spending there was on social housing in the borough of Colchester in each year since 1979.

Yvette Cooper: £77.32 million was spent on social housing in Colchester between 1999 and 2005. Information for the period 1979 to 1998 is not readily available.

Sustainable Communities (Northamptonshire)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what conclusions have been reached by the Department's Growth Areas Directorate following its recent discussions with Northamptonshire county council and other local agencies on the infrastructure investment required in Northamptonshire up to 2021 to deliver the Department's sustainable communities plan.

Yvette Cooper: As part of their evidence gathering and analysis phase, officials from the Supporting Housing Growth Review team, along with officials from DCLG and other key infrastructure departments, have conducted a series of case study workshops with officials from local authorities across the country. The visit to North Northamptonshire held on 25 July was one of those visits. The review will report to Treasury Ministers as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Angola

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) level of UK public investment and  (b) plans for support his Department has in respect of the future reconstruction of Angola.

Hilary Benn: DFID has a modest bilateral aid programme in Angola, presently at £5 million for 2006-07. The UK also provides other sources of bilateral funding, including demining (at around £750,000 per year), the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (at just over £1 million in 2006-07), the British Embassy's Post Bilateral Fund (£110,000 per year), and the Global Opportunities Fund for Climate Change and Energy (representing around £100,000 in 2006-07). In addition, the UK supports multilateral organisations, including the World Bank's Angola Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme (US$25 million over five years), the European Commission's European Development Fund, which allocated €146 million to Angola for 2002-07 (of which the UK's share was around 17.5 per cent.), and UNICEF's £18 million programme Southern Africa programme (which includes Angola) to which DFID contributes £3.5 million.
	After 41 years of conflict, Angola has immense reconstruction challenges. In 2005, Angola ranked 160 out of 175 of the UNDP Human Development Index, with under five, infant and maternal mortality the second highest in the world. With the global rise in oil prices, the Government of Angola have substantially increased revenue to help it tackle these challenges. DFID's priorities in Angola are to support the consolidation of peace, greater civic engagement in state policy and practice, the transparent use of Government resources in a way that prioritises poverty reduction, and assistance for social sectors where Angola is off-track on the Millennium Development Goals.

Colombia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has provided for eradication of the drug trade in Colombia in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have a bilateral programme in Colombia and has not supported projects specifically on the eradication of the drugs trade over the last five years.
	The ongoing conflict in Colombia has allowed the drugs trade to spiral. The drugs trade in turn is fuelling the conflict. DFID works together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence to support initiatives on security and conflict reduction in Latin America through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP). In Colombia, the GCPP is currently funding two projects (each up to one year in duration) to strengthen the rule of law; a Community Policing Programme (£27,500) and a programme to increase the capacity of the military and the police to apply the law (£37,500). Projects are also supported on managing the border between Colombia and its neighbours Venezuela (£25,000) and Ecuador (£25,895). Although not specifically on the drugs trade, these GCPP supported projects are assisting the Government of Colombia to tackle organised drug related crime.
	DFID works in Latin America through a regional programme primarily aimed at improving the effectiveness of the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. In Colombia, DFID has been working with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Colombia to develop a comprehensive Poverty and Inequality Strategy. This work includes studies on the determinants of rural poverty. DFID is also funding Christian Aid, CAFOD and Oxfam in Colombia to carry out work on human rights, conflict prevention and humanitarian activities.

Ethiopia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has made available to those affected by the flood in Ethiopia; and if he will make statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has provided an additional £1 million to the Humanitarian Response Fund for Ethiopia, in response to needs which have arisen as a result of the widespread flooding in South Omo, Dire Dawa and other lowland areas of Ethiopia. The Fund is managed by the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator, with support from the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). This is a rapid and flexible source of funds which will respond to needs as they arise and in the event of further flooding.
	This contribution was made ahead of the international emergency appeal launched by the UN OCHA and the Government of Ethiopia on 25 August. DFID will continue to monitor the situation and will consider responding to any further appeal.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of accounting procedures for aid provided to Iraq from  (a) non-Iraqi sources and  (b) Iraq's own resources; what the latest estimate is of the amount of (i) missing money, (ii) misused money and (iii) money which has not been used for its intended purpose; what assessment he has made of whether pledged assistance has delivered the intended outcomes; what assessment he has made of the extent of corruption with regard to aid, including by non-Iraqi sources; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The aid that donors provide to Iraq is subject to standard accounting procedures and rigorous auditing. All of DFID's funds are subject to rigorous internal controls. The National Audit Office audits DFID's accounts on an annual basis. Our 2005-06 audited resource accounts are available at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/resource-accounts.asp.
	As to the latest estimates of missing or misused donor funds, the US Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction produces a quarterly report for Congress. Its report in January 2006 found that $8.8 billion under management by the Coalition Provisional Authority between May 2003 and June 2004 had less than adequate financial controls. This audit did not assert that this money could not be accounted for, but rather concluded that financial controls did not meet required standards. Further reports are available at www.sigir.mil. There are regular audits of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) run by the UN and World Bank (further details available at www.irffi.org).
	Regarding estimates of UK aid missing or misused in Iraq, as set out in our 2005-06 resource accounts, DFID has evidence that £254,000 was misused by recipients. In addition, primarily due to the poor security situation, we have been unable to account properly for a further £296,000. This is out of a total of £356 million disbursed by DFID in Iraq since 2003.
	Despite difficult security, donor assistance to Iraq has delivered tangible outcomes. For example, DFID has improved electricity transmission lines in southern Iraq which has secured power supplies for more than 1.5 million people. We have also helped to improve water supplies. And have provided strategic economic advice to the Ministry of Finance which helped Iraq secure an IMF Standby Arrangement in December 2005.
	Regarding Iraqi sources of aid, the Government of Iraq's accounting system is old and does not accurately reflect public expenditure. Budget outturns for 2005, for example, are estimates and not full audited accounts. A new computerised system should be in place in 2007.
	There are currently no reliable estimates of how much of Iraq's public money is misused or missing. There is smuggling, theft, and corruption in many sectors, especially oil. The UK, alongside the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other donors, continues to work with the Iraqi Government as they seek to improve accountability and transparency in Iraq's public finances.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of prices for consumer goods on poor people in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has assessed the level of consumer price inflation in Iraq, and to the extent possible, its impact on the poor. The main causes of inflation are as follows:
	the end of the sanctions regime represented a major boost to purchasing power for ordinary Iraqis, it brought down the prices for many imported goods but also caused inflation and big changes in relative prices of other goods, particularly non-traded goods;
	concurrently, the major increase in world oil prices has greatly increased the nominal GDP of Iraq since 2003, which has been a stimulus to demand and has contributed to inflation in the prices of non-traded goods;
	the Central Bank of Iraq has been roughly pegging the new Iraqi Dinar to the dollar, which is also quite inflationary given the expansion in dollar income; and
	the Iraqi Government's welcome attempts to address some of the highly distorted and subsidised prices in the Iraqi economy has, inevitably, highly inflationary effects in the short term, for example in the domestic fuel market.
	There are regular surveys of prices, but the way these are compounded into an overall price level is made problematic by the absence of good survey data on what Iraqis consume. This makes it very difficult to make a good assessment of how the poor are being impacted by inflation. Our rough estimation is that very poor Iraqis are probably impacted less by inflation in Iraq than are average or richer Iraqis. Richer Iraqis consume a lot of fuel—the poor remain somewhat protected by the continued existence of the food rationing system. However, it is also likely that very poor Iraqis have seen less of the boost to incomes experienced by Iraqis as a whole.

Lebanon

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Conference for Lebanon's Early Recovery held in Stockholm on 31 August 2006; what the timeframe is for the allocation of pledged money; how it is to be spent; and what other assistance will be provided.

Hilary Benn: The Stockholm conference hoped to generate a target figure of $540 million (£284 million) in pledges from the international donor community in support of the Government of Lebanon's Early Recovery Plan. The final figure pledged was $930 million (£489 million). DFID's total funding commitment to Lebanon to date, including multilateral contributions, is £22.3 million. The UK is the fifth largest bilateral contributor to the humanitarian effort in Lebanon, and we stand ready to do more as needed.
	There are four priorities for the distribution of UK funds:
	providing assistance for displaced people along routes of return;
	securing sustained access for humanitarian convoys;
	reducing the risk to those returning and aid workers from unexploded munitions;
	repairing basic infrastructure such as water pumps and ensuring enough fuel reaches communities to run such essential infrastructure.
	We urge those donors that have pledged funds to ensure that the full benefits of their commitment reach those most in need as soon as possible.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether there has been Maoist intimidation of  (a) UK aid workers and  (b) his Department's staff in Nepal.

Gareth Thomas: Throughout the Nepal conflict there has been intimidation of DFID and other aid agency workers by both Maoists and Nepal Government Security Forces. Since the mutually agreed ceasefire in May 2006, intimidation of aid workers has decreased significantly but the situation varies across the country.
	In some areas, the Maoists continue to intimidate aid workers in order to gain funds or to force formal written recognition for parallel government systems. Although the Maoist central leadership have publicly stated that development should continue unhindered and that forced collection of "taxes" by their cadres is forbidden, this directive is not uniformly followed by all regional or district Maoist representatives.
	For DFID, staff safety and security is the first priority. The DFID Nepal Risk Management Office works closely with the UN and other donor agencies to manage and minimise the risks associated with acts of intimidation. Where there have been direct threats to staff safety, DFID has suspended activities in those districts where threats have been made until assurances have been received and threats withdrawn.
	DFID took the lead role in producing a set of Basic Operating Guidelines which lay out the basic principles of engagement for development workers in Nepal. The guidelines have been signed by representatives of ten bilateral partners in Nepal and, in 2005, both the Maoists and the Government of Nepal committed themselves to following the principles set out in the guidelines.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make an assessment of the conditions in the internally displaced people's camps in Darfur; and what assessment he has made of the extent of migration back to their homelands by those who have been living in the camps.

Hilary Benn: Conditions in the Internally Displaced People's (IDPs) camps in Darfur stabilised during 2005, bringing mortality and malnutrition indicators in the majority of camps below the emergency threshold. The camps are still very basic, however, and many of the IDPs are now in their second or third year in camps originally designed to last for six months. Since the recent upsurge in violence, there have been a further 250,000 people displaced. This year there have also been outbreaks of cholera, and security has deteriorated in many of the camps. This insecurity has begun to hamper the delivery of humanitarian assistance and comes at a time of seasonal food shortages.
	The number of returns made by IDPs to their homes is currently negligible. While there is some movement back to villages (generally connected to the agricultural cycle), these are largely just day trips; the pervasive insecurity preventing longer stays. The UK is actively supporting the African Union, the UN and the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement in order to re-establish security and the rule of law and, ultimately, create an environment in which IDPs can safely return to their homes. For this to happen a transition to a UN mission is essential.

Tuberculosis

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to help with the control and treatment of  (a) tuberculosis,  (b) multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and  (c) extreme drug resistant tuberculosis in the developing world; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is very concerned with the spread of the new, highly resistant form of tuberculosis, referred to as extreme drug resistant TB (or XDR-TB). This is virtually untreatable and is made worse by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, because HIV makes people more susceptible to TB.
	Resistance to anti-TB drugs occurs because of poorly managed TB care. The best way of preventing the development of drug resistance is to ensure all TB patients complete treatment with effective drugs.
	DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course) remains at the heart of the Stop TB Strategy for effective diagnosis and treatment of TB. The World Health Organisation and partner agencies have developed the DOTS-Plus approach for the management of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) which includes rational use of second line drugs.
	In 2004, DOTS strategy was extended to cover 183 countries, and there were 4.4 million new and relapse TB cases notified, of which 2.1 million were new cases.
	The UK supports TB control through a variety of channels, including bilateral country programmes and through support to international organisations and partnerships such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), the World Bank, the European Commission, WHO and the Stop TB Partnership.
	DFID is a founder member of UNITAID (the International Drug Purchase Facility) which will be launched this month at the United Nations General Assembly, and will provide additional funding to help the scale-up of services to improve access to treatment for AIDS, TB and malaria.
	The UK has already pledged to provide £100 million to GFATM in both 2006 and 2007, (subject to performance). We will also provide £5 million to support the work of the Stop TB Partnership and its Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-2015. In January this year, the Chancellor also announced new UK support to combat TB in India, where DFID will provide £41.7 million over five yeas.
	The development of new drugs will be crucial to the treatment and management of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and XDR-TB. DFID has a long history of supporting research on TB and we currently support research programme consortia on communicable disease at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Nuffield Centre for International Health at Leeds University. Both programmes will receive £5 million each over the next five years.
	DFID is also supporting the research and development of TB drugs and diagnostics via WHO's programme on Tropical Disease Research (TDR) and the Global Alliance for TB Drugs. The Global Alliance will receive £6.5 million from 2005-08 for the development of new TB drugs.

Zimbabwe

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources have been allocated by his Department to Zimbabwe in each of the last five years; and what steps he is taking to ensure that aid reaches those for whom it is intended.

Hilary Benn: Over the last five years, DFID has spent some £143 million on programmes in Zimbabwe, broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Commitment 
			 2001-02 15,234,000 
			 2002-03 29,926,000 
			 2003-04 34,167,000 
			 2004-05 25,584,000 
			 2005-06 37,335,893 
		
	
	Most of this funding was directed to tackling HIV/AIDS and food insecurity. Since the breakdown of Zimbabwe's relations with international donors in 2002, all funding has been channelled through United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations. We provide no funding to the Government of Zimbabwe. Our implementing partners have clear and effective procedures and monitoring systems in place to ensure that the assistance reaches the most poor and vulnerable people whom our assistance is intended to benefit. We also undertake our own monitoring and evaluation which confirms that assistance provided by the UK reaches those most in need. Along with the UN, EC and other donors, we continue to make it clear to the Zimbabwe Government that we will not tolerate political interference in the distribution of our aid.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of Access to Work to central Government Departments was in each of the last three financial years.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available broken down by employer and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Carer's Allowance

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of those in receipt of carer's allowance have an income below 60 per cent. of median household income before housing costs.

Anne McGuire: Analysis of the 2004-05 Family Resources Survey and Households Below Average Incomes datasets indicates that about 13 per cent. of those receiving carer's allowance live in a household with income below 60 per cent. of median household income (before housing costs).

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 23 May, sent to HM Treasury and referred to his Department on 5 July, regarding a constituent.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 24 July 2006
	A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 14 August 2006.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will arrange for a further reply to the letter dated 2 June from the hon. Member for Walsall, North to the Child Support Agency regarding a constituent; reference 320975475681/1030275572.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Hilary Reynolds, dated 13 September 2006:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on leave, I am responding on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he would arrange for a further reply to the letter dated 2nd June from the hon. Member for Walsall North to the Child Support Agency regarding a constituent; reference 320975475681/1030275572.
	I apologise for the delay in replying to your letter of 31 May. As details about individual cases are confidential I am sending my reply to the above letter to you privately.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will arrange for a reply to the letter dated 24 July to the Child Support Agency from the hon. Member for Walsall, North, reference 1020793538.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive, he will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Hilary Reynolds, dated 13 September 2006:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on leave, I am responding on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will arrange for a reply to the letter dated 24 July to the Child Support Agency from the hon. Member for Walsall North, reference 1020793538.
	I apologise for the delay in replying to your letter dated 24 July. As details about individual cases are confidential I am sending my reply to the above letter to you privately.

Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the reasons were for the time taken to transfer a letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford concerning his constituents, Mr. Forrester, Mrs. Dixty and Mr. Seal to the Department for Communities and Local Government; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The correspondence that the hon. Gentleman refers to raised a number of complex policy issues and officials in this Department had a number of discussions with colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government on how best to respond him. After seeking ministerial advice it was decided that the Department for Communities and Local Government would respond.
	I apologise for the delay in arranging the transfer of the hon. Gentleman's letter to the Department for Communities and Local Government and acknowledge that the service provided in this case did not meet the standard that this Department aspires to and which hon. Members require. The Department is reviewing its procedures on transfers of correspondence to ensure that similar delays are avoided in future.

Correspondence

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters have been dealt with by the Work and Pensions parliamentary correspondence teams relating to complaints about delays in receiving benefits and service delivery problems over the last three years.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Disability Equality

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the disability equality scheme for his Department; and in what formats he plans to publish the scheme.

Anne McGuire: We intend to publish our Disability Equality Scheme by 4 December 2006.
	We will be publishing it in English, Welsh, Easy Read, Braille and Audio (download). It will also be available on both our internal and external websites.
	The scheme will be published in font size 14 which meets the requirements for a large print version.

Disability Living Allowance

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations his Department has received from groups and individuals in support of an increase in disability living allowance; and what plans his Department has to increase disability living allowance.

Anne McGuire: Over the last six months, the Department has received no representations from groups in support of an increase of the rates at which disability living allowance is paid, but we have received such representations from 12 individuals. These include the letter the hon. Gentleman sent on behalf of his constituent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 13 July, and to which I replied on 20 July. In my letter, I advised that disability living allowance is increased every April by the rate of inflation as measured by the movement in the retail prices index. We have no plans to change these arrangements which have seen expenditure on the benefit increase by about 45 per cent. in real terms (at 2006-07 prices) from £6.1 billion in 1997-98 to an estimated £8.8 billion in 2005-06.

Health and Safety Executive

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action is taken by the Health and Safety Executive to supplement its own regular inspection of major hazard sites  (a) by unannounced check inspections and  (b) by separate inspections by outside verification agencies.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The majority of inspections to major hazard sites are pre-arranged, primarily to ensure that the appropriate technical staff are available to evaluate the effectiveness of the health and safety management systems including the technical measures in place for preventing and controlling major accident hazards. Unannounced visits are occasionally made where the spontaneity of such an approach is a key element of the purpose of the visit.
	There is a range of requirements for independent verification in the various major hazard regulatory regimes. HSE inspectors take account of the findings of such verification inspections in their overall assessment/inspection process.

Health and Safety Executive

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are being taken by the Health and Safety Executive inspectors in evaluating safety at major hazard sites to supplement audit of process and fitting operator safety systems by testing of these systems in the course of such inspections.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 11 September 2006
	It is the responsibility of the site operator to ensure that its safety systems are operated, maintained and tested as described in its safety report (where one is appropriate) and as intended.
	HSE's regulation of such sites require a balance between observing workplace standards and working practices, verifying risk control measures (both hardware and software), examining supporting documentation and interviewing personnel. Inspectors adopt a variety of approaches when verifying safety critical risk control or mitigation measures. Some testing of actual safety systems may be appropriate during a visit, for example, inspectors may ask to observe a test of a safety critical control system or a mitigation measure such as an emergency response plan.

Illegal Immigrants

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the total amount of benefits paid erroneously to illegal immigrants in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.
	Illegal immigrants are not entitled to DWP administered benefits. Rigorous checking processes are built into the benefit application systems to ensure that the gateway to the benefits system is secure.

Incapacity Benefit

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are receiving incapacity benefit.

Anne McGuire: As at February 2006, there were 2,747,490 people in receipt of incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance in Great Britain.

Long-term In-patients

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many long-term hospital in-patients received an increase in their entitlement to  (a) income support,  (b) jobseeker's allowance and  (c) incapacity benefit following the introduction of new rules in April 2006; and what the average weekly increase in income was for recipients of each affected benefit.

James Plaskitt: The information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost

NI Numbers

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations relating to the issue of national insurance numbers contained in Lord Grabiner's 2000 report on the informal economy; and what discussions his Department has had with the Home Office in relation to implementing those recommendations.

James Plaskitt: Lord Grabiner's recommendation was that the national insurance number (NINO) allocation approach performed by the Balham office in south west London be extended nationally. DWP has implemented this recommendation. Following the successful pilot at Balham office, new procedures for NINO allocation were introduced nationally at the end of March 2001. Specialist teams now carry out thorough and detailed interviews with applicants. Interviewing sites have access to sophisticated document examination tools. A secondary level of checks has been introduced in order fully to corroborate information provided by the applicant at the initial interview.
	The Home Office was involved in the development of these new procedures. Furthermore, following Lord Grabiner's investigation into the informal economy, a steering group was set up in May 2000 to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in Lord Grabiner's report.

NI Numbers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it has been the policy of his Department since 1997 to issue national insurance numbers to immigrants who have overstayed their permitted period in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: All National Insurance Number (NINO) applications are subjected to rigorous identity checking process and where this raises questions over immigration status or authenticity of identity documents, such cases will be referred to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.
	The NINO interviewing process was primarily designed to guard against identity fraud with NINO allocation being dependent upon an individual providing sufficient evidence to prove their identity. However, on Monday 5 June 2006, we announced changes that took place from July 2006 and which introduced a "right to work" condition before a NINO can be allocated to employment-related applicants.

Overpayment Income Support

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will investigate the alleged overpayment of income support to a constituent of the hon. Member for St. Albans, Mr. Jules Vialva.

James Plaskitt: I will write separately to the hon. Lady concerning her constituent.

Parliamentary Questions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer question 79985, on benefits expenditure, tabled on 20 June 2006 by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 14 July 2006
	I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given on 25 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 1567-68W.

Pathways Areas

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average time has been taken to conduct the capability report in pathways areas; and what the average cost has been.

Anne McGuire: Information on the time taken to conduct the capability report is not collected.
	It is a requirement of the Medical Services contract that the Capability Report and Personal Capability Assessment are completed during a single examination. Information gathered by the doctor during this examination is used to complete both the Personal Capability Assessment Report and the Capability Report. We estimate that completion of the Capability Report in Pathways areas adds an average six minutes to a standard Personal Capability Assessment.
	Cost information is confidential and cannot be disclosed as to do so may prejudice the commercial interests of the Department and/or its suppliers.

Prisoners

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total amount of  (a) Social Fund payments,  (b) winter fuel payments,  (c) attendance allowance,  (d) disability living allowance,  (e) carer's allowance,  (f) retirement pension,  (g) bereavement benefits,  (h) maternity allowance,  (i) reduced earnings allowance,  (j) retirement allowance,  (k) income support,  (l) jobseeker's allowance,  (m) pension credit and  (n) statutory sick pay erroneously paid to prisoners due to (i) fraud, (ii) customer error and (iii) official error in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available for benefits other than income support, jobseeker's allowance, and pension credit. For the available information on these three benefits I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written answer I gave him on 24 July 2006,  Official Report, column 872W.

Return to Work

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what research he has conducted into the impact that reasonable travel and lunch reimbursements have on supporting individuals re-entry into the labour market in a paid or voluntary capacity; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether reasonable lunch and travel reimbursements will continue to be excluded from counting as earnings or income for people performing voluntary work; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the cost to benefit claimants who are volunteering of  (a) lunching at home and  (b) buying lunch at or near a work place; what assumptions are made of the cost of lunches in benefit calculations; and what assessment he has made of the effect on the availability of claimants to volunteer of the decision to treat expenses paid for lunches as income for benefit purposes.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 4 July 2006
	The Department for Work and Pensions has not carried out or commissioned specific research into the impact of reimbursing expenses to volunteers.
	The Department for Work and Pensions has not undertaken any specific cost comparison of the cost of lunching at home, the work place or elsewhere; there are no plans to do so. However, we have received a number of representations from voluntary or charitable groups who have produced some evidence to suggest that many people on benefits may be discouraged from undertaking voluntary activity, or stop volunteering, if they are not able to claim the consequent additional costs of meals as an expense.
	Volunteering plays an important role in helping people move off benefits and back into work. It gives people confidence, the chance to develop skills and to gain invaluable experience after a period out of work.
	We do not want to create a situation whereby individuals are put off volunteering or are penalised from helping themselves and others because they cannot afford to buy something to eat.
	We have therefore simplified the rules. Meals can now be treated as a reasonable expense which volunteers can claim back so that they are no longer expected to meet the cost of their lunch from their benefit.

State Pension

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Pensions Service accuracy rate has been for dealing with state retirement pension in the last five years; and what the related costs of official error have been.

James Purnell: The available information is in the following tables. Figures are only available since the Pension Service came into existence in April 2002.
	 State pension accuracy
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Accuracy rate achieved  Standard 
			 2002-03 97 98 
			 2003-04 98.6 98 
			 2004-05 97.6 98 
		
	
	The 2005-06 year to date summary is 96.97 per cent. against standard of 98 per cent.
	 Estimates of state pension overpayments through official error
	In each year the amount overpaid as a result of official error represents around 0.1 per cent. or less as a proportion of state pension expenditure.
	
		
			   Estimated official error overpayment amount (£ million) 
			 2002-03 10 
			 2003-04 20 
			 2004-05 30 
			 2005-06 30

State Pension

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the process is for the audit of state retirement pension claims; and when the next audit exercise is due to take place.

James Purnell: There are a number of measures used to audit state retirement pension claims.
	Internal audit (part of the Department's risk assurance division) reviews the risks and controls that support the accurate and secure payment of state pension to our customers. The next audit is scheduled for the final quarter of this financial year.
	Performance measurement unit (also part of the DWP risk assurance division) measures the degree of error and the quality of decision making for state pension claims. This process is subject to validation by internal audit.
	The Department's external auditors, the National Audit Office, undertake a programme of work to confirm the accuracy of state pension benefit expenditure reported in the DWP accounts.

State Pension

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the most recent estimate is of the cost of the Pensions Transformation Programme in the Pension Service.

James Purnell: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial Year  Pension transformation costs (£ million) 
			 2003-04 61.7 
			 2004-05 102.6 
			 2005-06 136.7 
			 2006-07 (up to end of August 2006) 78.8 
			 Total 379.8

Volunteers

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he will alter the guidance in his Department's booklet, "A guide to volunteering while on benefits" to allow volunteers in receipt of income support or jobseeker's allowance to claim lunch expenses as a legitimate expense.

James Plaskitt: Volunteering plays an important role in helping people move off benefits and back into work. It gives people confidence and the chance to develop skills and to gain invaluable experience after a period out of work.
	We do not want to create a situation whereby individuals are put off volunteering or are penalised from helping themselves and others because they cannot afford to buy something to eat.
	We have therefore simplified the rules. Meals can now be treated as a reasonable expense which volunteers can claim back so that they are no longer expected to meet the cost of their lunch from their benefit.
	The guidance contained in the Volunteers Handbook will be reviewed to reflect the simplified rules.

Volunteers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria were used in assessing reimbursement for lunch and other meals to volunteers as earnings rather than legitimate expenses; and what impact he expects this to have on those in receipt of benefits who choose to take up voluntary work.

James Plaskitt: Volunteering plays an important role in helping people move off benefits and back into work. It gives people confidence and the chance to develop skills and to gain invaluable experience after a period out of work.
	We do not want to create a situation whereby individuals are put off volunteering or are penalised from helping themselves and others because they cannot afford to buy something to eat.
	We have therefore simplified the rules. Meals can now be treated as a reasonable expense which volunteers can claim back so that they are no longer expected to meet the cost of their lunch from their benefit.

Volunteers

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what consultation was undertaken by his Department in advance of the change in guidance from his Department regarding lunch expenses for those on benefits who work as volunteers; and with whom such consultation took place;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likely impact of new guidance from his Department regarding lunch expenses for those on benefits who work as volunteers on the number of those on benefits who volunteer;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of people on benefits who do voluntary work.

James Plaskitt: Volunteering plays an important role in helping people move off benefits and back into work. It gives people confidence and the chance to develop skills and to gain invaluable experience after a period out of work.
	We do not want to create a situation whereby individuals are put off volunteering or are penalised from helping themselves and others because they cannot afford to buy something to eat.
	We have therefore simplified the rules. Meals can now be treated as a reasonable expense which volunteers can claim back so that they are no longer expected to meet the cost of their lunch from their benefit. We have been working closely with volunteering organisations to implement the simplification quickly and smoothly.
	The number of benefit recipients who choose to volunteer is not known as we do not collect this information.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC Charter

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made in the context of Charter Renewal of the impact of the BBC's local television project on the development of local newspapers.

Shaun Woodward: None. The arrangements set out in the new Charter and Agreement require that a Public Value Test (PVT) be carried out on all proposed new services before they can be approved by the Trust. The Public Value Test includes an assessment by Ofcom of the proposed service's impact on relevant markets. The BBC has committed to carrying out a PVT before any local TV service is rolled out, whether or not the new Charter and Agreement have come into effect.

Casino (Manchester)

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations received by the Department in support of a regional casino in East Manchester came from individual Manchester residents.

Richard Caborn: The Department has not received any representations from Manchester residents in support of a regional casino in East Manchester. All representations in support of a bid for one of the new casinos permitted under the Gambling Act 2005 have been made to the Casino Advisory Panel.
	Details of the proposals made by local authorities to the panel are available on their website at www.culture.gov.uk/cap.

Digital Switchover

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which organisations and individuals have been consulted on the proposed scheme to help vulnerable and elderly people with digital switchover; what the budget for the scheme will be; and when she plans to announce the details of the scheme.

Shaun Woodward: We have consulted organisations representing older and disabled people through the Digital Television Consumer Expert Group who have produced two reports to Government on the equipment requirements of vulnerable consumers and support for them at and after digital switchover.
	We intend to publish further details about the help scheme later this year.

Digital Switchover

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government have to engage the services of voluntary organisations to deliver  (a) part and  (b) all of their proposed scheme to help vulnerable and elderly people with digital switchover.

Shaun Woodward: We are in discussions with the Digital Television Consumer Expert Group, which includes organisations representing older and disabled people, about the role of voluntary organisations in the delivery of the Digital TV Help Scheme.

Football

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution her Department has made to the implementation of proposals contained in the  (a) Burns Report and  (b) European Sport Review which relate to the regulation of football in England; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I have held regular discussions with the FA and other football authorities since Lord Burns' report was published in August 2005. I continue to urge the FA to implement the recommendations contained in Lord Burns' report as quickly as possible to ensure it is a national governing body which is fit for purpose.
	The Independent European Sport Review was published on 23 May with recommendations falling to member states, EU institutions, domestic Football Associations and UEFA to consider. The UK Government are currently considering their recommendations, in consultation with key stakeholders, and aim to respond to the Review's authors at the end of September.

London Olympics Building Programme

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of whether EU workers will be needed to fill skills gaps in the building of the London Olympics site.

Richard Caborn: None. The Government believe that the London 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games present a huge employment opportunity for local communities in east London which suffer from low basic skills levels and high unemployment. The London Employment and Skills Task Force is developing an action plan which will help to effect a permanent reduction in the level of worklessness in London and the Lower Lea Valley, including proposals such as:
	Establishing the Olympic site as a National Skills Academy site;
	Doubling the current rate of apprentices to workers;
	The incorporation of all ODA and LOCOG contractors' vacancies into Jobcentre Plus processes; and
	Ensuring that 15 per cent. of 50,000 person-years of jobs are filled by residents of the five east London host boroughs.
	This and other programmes of work by Olympic partners are designed to ensure that local people are equipped with the skills needed to enable them to benefit from the whole range of games-related opportunities.

London Olympics Building Programme

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the skills upgrade required for east London citizens to be employed on the 2012 London Olympics building programme; and what discussions the Government have had with the London Organising Committee on steps to develop the necessary skills locally.

Richard Caborn: The Government and their Olympic partners recognise the importance of ensuring a skilled workforce to deliver the Olympic park and venues on time and budget. The games represent a huge opportunity for local communities in east London and partners are developing a range of programmes to ensure that local people are well-placed to benefit from these opportunities. For example, the Olympic Delivery Authority's draft procurement policy includes a commitment to working with its contractors to provide a legacy of trained and motivated people needed for their business, in association with relevant sector skills councils. ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for the construction industry, has established a special team—Constructing London 2012—to deliver locally available construction skills. In addition, the London Development Agency is working closely with the five Olympic boroughs to set up a job brokerage service which will be based in the Lower Lea Valley and will act as a link with contractors on skills requirements, training provision and pre-employment training.

Racing (Horse Numbers)

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many horses she estimates have been involved in the racing industry in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: The Government do not hold this information.
	The British Horseracing Board, the governing body for the sport, states that the average number of horses in training in each of the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			   Horses in training 
			 2001 13,310 
			 2002 12,986 
			 2003 13,088 
			 2004 13,914 
			 2005 14,388

Sports Clubs

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number and percentage of five to 16-year-olds who were members of, or participated in, national governing body accredited sports clubs in each year since 2002.

Richard Caborn: Data collected by Sport England in 2005-06 show that there were 1,082,419 five to 16-year-olds participating in the accredited clubs of the 22 National Governing Bodies clubs who contribute to the Club Links Workstrand of the National School Sport Strategy. Data are not available in the requested format for years preceding this.

Test Match Cricket (TV Coverage)

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which broadcasters have  (a) accepted and  (b) rejected the invitation sent by her Department on 16 May to discuss the television coverage of test match cricket.

Richard Caborn: Arrangements for a meeting to discuss television coverage of test match cricket have yet to be finalised. However, of the broadcasters approached, BBC, Channel 4, FIVE and Sky have all indicated a willingness to attend a meeting. Only ITV, after giving due consideration to the request, have indicated that they can see no useful purpose in their attendance.

UK Film Council

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on the distribution of funding by the UK Film Council across projects in south east England.

Shaun Woodward: The DCMS has agreed with the UK Film Council the following policy directions with regard to the English regions including the south east:
	the need to ensure that all parts of the country have access to funding
	the desirability of working with other organisations, including other distributors, where this is an effective means of delivering elements of its strategy.
	The UK Film Council delegates funding through the Regional Investment Fund For England (RIFE) to the nine Regional Screen Agencies in support of its regional objectives, in order that the agencies can deliver locally in line with local objectives.
	Through RIFE, the UK Film Council disperses a combination of Lottery and Grant in Aid Funding to Screen South, the Regional Screen Agency responsible for delivering strategy in the south east. The objectives of the Regional Investment Fund for England mirror the UK Film Council's overarching aim to stimulate a successful, vibrant film industry and to promote the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of cinema throughout the UK. Each agency, including Screen South, is active across six key areas: archives, exhibition, life long learning, locations and inward investment, production and skills training. The relative emphasis on each of these areas is agreed within each agency in response to the identified needs of the region. Neither the Secretary of State nor the UK Film Council have any input on decisions made on a project by project level.

Violent Computer Games

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the outcome was of her Department's 2005 review of the possible link between playing violent computer games and real life violence.

Shaun Woodward: A copy of the report was published on the Department's website in February 2006. The researchers found that there was no conclusive evidence of a link between playing computer games that featured violence and violent behaviour in real life.

Violent Computer Games

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many computer games published in 2005 depicted gross violence and required a legal classification by the British Board of Film Classification; and how many of these were classified as suitable only for those over 18 years.

Shaun Woodward: A total of 1,085 computer games were released during 2005. Games can be referred to the BBFC for a number of reasons. Those which contain material that might be considered gross violence are classified at the '18' level. The BBFC considered 198 works of digital media, and 43 of these were classified '18'. The level of violence was the reason for the adult rating in 40 cases.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

A-levels

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many A-levels were awarded to pupils in  (a) England and  (b) each local education authority in 2006; and how many and what percentage were in (i) accounting, (ii) art and design, (iii) business studies, (iv) critical thinking, (v) communication studies, (vi) dance, (vii) design and technology, (viii) drama and theatre studies, (ix) film, media and television studies, (x) general studies, (xi) health and social care, (xii) home economics, (xiii) Information Communications Technology, (xiv) leisure studies, (xv) music technology, (xvi) performance studies, (xvii) performing arts, (xviii) physical education and sports studies and (xix) travel and tourism;
	(2)  how many A-levels were awarded in 2006 to pupils  (a) in selective schools,  (b) in non-selective schools,  (c) in independent schools,  (d) in sixth form colleges and  (e) in further education and tertiary colleges; and how many and what percentage were in one of the subject areas identified by Cambridge University as less effective preparation for degree courses in each case.

Phil Hope: Figures showing students' A-level achievements in 2006 by institution type and local authority are not yet available. Provisional results, based on the information collected for the post-16 Achievement and Attainment Tables, will first be published as National Statistics in October 2006.

Apprenticeships

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of young people aged between 16 and 22 years who have made use of the Modern Apprenticeships and the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network in each year since 2002.

Phil Hope: The Apprenticeship programme continues to go from strength to strength with record numbers of young people participating and completion rates continuing to improve. Numbers of young people (aged 16 to 24) who have taken up an apprenticeship in England since 2002/03 are as follows:
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 ( 1) 2005-06 
			 Apprenticeship 24,336 43,110 45,125 47,531 
			 Advanced Apprenticeship 18,618 9,174 8,912 18,979 
			 Total 42,954 52,284 54,037 66,510 
			 (1 )September 2005 to May 2006.  Note: Figures cannot be broken down into specific age groups but are for the whole of the Apprenticeship cohort, from age 16 to 24. 
		
	
	The new Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) was launched as a successor to the Apprenticeship Task Force in April this year. The AAN's key aim is to champion apprenticeships to employers of all sizes with the aim of increasing take-up, particularly in sectors with poor penetration.

Children and Young People's Plan

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local authorities did not publish a Children and Young People's Plan by 1 April.

Phil Hope: The Department for Education and Skills does not collect data on precisely when local authorities published their Children and Young People's Plan. Officials at the Department ran a compliance check during July and can now confirm that all local authorities that are required to do so have published a plan.

Committee on Treatment in Custody

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received from the Howard League on the proposals of the committee on treatment in custody chaired by Lord Carlile, QC; and what response he has given.

Phil Hope: The Youth Justice Board published its response to the recommendations of Lord Carlile's report in July 2006.
	During 2006, DfES Ministers have held two meetings with representatives of the Howard League. The subject of these meetings was access to services for young people on release from custody.

Communication Aids Project

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many children received equipment under the Communication Aids Project up to March 2006; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the impact on users of ending the Communication Aids Project; what plans there are for further funding of the project; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Communication Aids Project (CAP) went live in April 2002 and closed in March 2006. During the lifetime of the project, 4,193 children received equipment geared to their particular needs based on specialised assessments.
	CAP was a time-limited DFES initiative intended to supplement, not replace, provision made by local agencies such as local authorities, schools and health authorities. No assessment has been made of the impact of closure on users and there are no plans at present to renew funding for the project.

Departmental Travel

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to ensure that all flights undertaken by Ministers and officials in his Department are carbon neutral; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: All central Government ministerial and official air travel is being offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases Certified Emissions Reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.

Enterprise Summer School Pathfinders

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard curriculum for the enterprise summer school pathfinders; how many such schools were held in summer 2006; for how many days each school was held; between what hours of the day each school was held; what criteria are being assessed to measure the effectiveness of such schools; and pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2006, Official Report, column 1981W, which of the businesses listed in the Answer subsequently confirmed their interest in participating in the schools.

Phil Hope: As yet, there is no standard curriculum for the Enterprise Summer School pathfinders. The evaluation that is being conducted by Oxford University assessed 23 approaches to five different models. The initial report is due in October and the final report in December. Together these will make recommendations on standard content based on the findings from the pathfinders.
	23 pathfinder Enterprise Summer Schools were run in 2006, with at least one in each UK region. The duration was between five and 10 days depending on which model was being run. For non-residential models, normal school hours were maintained. For residential models, evening activities were also included.
	Many more businesses took part than known in the previous answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Schools. The full list of participating businesses has been placed in the Libraries.

Family Court

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how long, on average, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service keeps the records of welfare cases heard in the Family Court in its archives.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). Anthony Douglas, the Chief Executive of CAFCASS, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Anthony Douglas:
	I am writing to you in response to the parliamentary question that you tabled recently: How long, on average does the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service keep the records of welfare cases heard in the Family Court in its archives?
	Statutory guidance for care and related proceedings and for adoption cases is followed by CAFCASS. The retention schedules for records held by CAFCASS are as follows:
	
		
			 Care & related proceedings (Public law) Until the youngest child reaches 21 years. 
			 Adoption Until the youngest child in proceedings reaches 75 years. 
			 Private law cases Between 5-7 years following the end of proceedings. 
		
	
	CAFCASS is currently developing new guidance, to ensure that a comprehensive national schedule is in place, which also takes account of recent policy developments in the field.

Funding

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding  (a) in total and  (b) per pupil has been allocated to Warrington Education Authority in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The following table sets out the total funding received by Warrington local education authority for its pupils for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06:
	
		
			  Warrington local education authority 
			   Total funding (£ million)  Funding per pupil (£) 
			 1997-98 83.7 2,660 
			 1998-99 88.1 2,710 
			 1999-2000 91.4 2,810 
			 2000-01 100.2 3,020 
			 2001-02 105.2 3,150 
			 2002-03 108.0 3,240 
			 2003-04 112.1 3,340 
			 2004-05 114.9 3,460 
			 2005-06 120.0 3,650 
			 Change(1) 36.4 980 
			 (1 )Change since 1997-98.   Notes:  1. Price Base: real terms at 2004-05 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 23.12.05.  2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of standard spending assessment/education formula spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC.  3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3-19 and exclude education maintenance allowance (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level.  4. The pupil numbers used to convert £m to £ per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3 to 4-year-olds funded through state supporting maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.  5. Rounding: total funding is rounded to the nearest £0.1 million. Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £10. Figures may not total due to rounding.  6. Status: 2003-04 to 2005-06 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited. 7. 1997-98 figures for authorities subject to local government re-organisation in that year (such as Warrington) have been estimated, pro-rata to their post LGR figures. 
		
	
	The following figures are taken from the new dedicated schools grant. They are not comparable with those for the earlier years:
	
		
			   Total DSG (£ million)  Guaranteed unit of funding (£) 
			 2005-06 Baseline 100.108 3,205.76 
			 2006-07 DSG 105.260 3,414.00 
			  Notes:  1. The figures from 1997-98 to 2005-06 are based on education formula spending (EPS) which formed the education part of the local government finance settlement, plus various grants. This was an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education rather than what they spent. In 2006-07 funding for schools changed with the introduction of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) which is based largely on an authority's previous spending.  2. The DSG has a different coverage to EFS. EFS comprised a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the schools block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's local government finance settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. This means there is a break from 2006-07 onwards in the funding series and the two sets of figures are not comparable. A new funding series is currently being developed by the Department.  3. There are other grants that support the schools budget. These are not included in the provided DSG figures as some of these grant figures are not yet available.  4. Figures are in cash terms and include the pensions transfer.

Funding

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  which schools in Warrington North have received funding for capital projects in each year since 1997; and how much was allocated and for what purpose in each case;
	(2)  how much capital funding has been allocated to Warrington Education Authority in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: School capital allocations are made by the Department on a local authority basis. These, together with any other local resources, are prioritised between schools in accordance with local authority asset management plans. The Department does not keep records of allocations to individual schools.
	Capital funding allocated to Warrington borough council and schools in its area in each year since 1998, the first year in which central records are available, is set out in the following table, in £ million.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 1998-99 3.7 
			 1999-2000 4.7 
			 2001-01 8.7 
			 2001-02 9.0 
			 2002-03 10.0 
			 2003-04 8.8 
			 2004-05 8.0 
			 2005-06 9.8 
			 2006-07 11.6

Further Education

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of the targeting of further education funding according to Priorities for Success on the level of provision of courses in  (a) Leeds and  (b) England for (i) people with learning disabilities and (ii) other priority groups; and if he will make statement.

Phil Hope: Funding for provision for people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities has increased significantly over recent years, and in 2004/05 the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) supported more than 641,000 learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities which accounted for nearly £1.5 billion. Continued investment in this provision remains a priority. This was stated in the Department's Grant Letter to the LSC for 2006-07, and was built upon by the LSC in their Annual Statement of Priorities for 2006/07.
	The LSC's funding strategy set out in Priorities for Success, realigns funding to support the Government targets, apprenticeships, Train to Gain, and free first full level 2 while protecting support for disadvantaged adult learning and securing more resource for those with learning difficulties and disabilities. Priorities for Success makes clear that support for disadvantaged adults who lack basic and level 2 skills for employability and progression to Level 3 is a priority, with free tuition for learners studying basic skills, a first level 2, and for all those on income-related benefits

Further Education

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what proportion of the total budget for further education was spent on adult students with learning disabilities in each  (a) institution and  (b) region in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much funding was provided for further education for adult students with learning disabilities in each  (a) institution and  (b) region in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: The Learning and Skills Council allocates specific budgets to institutions or regions for adult learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, therefore we do not hold the detail of institutional funding. Funding for provision for people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities has increased significantly over recent years, and in 2004/05 the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) supported more than 641,000 learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, which accounted for nearly £1.5 billion.
	Continuing investment in this provision remains a priority, which was confirmed in our 2006-07 Grant Letter to the LSC, and the LSC has in turn made clear in its strategic planning guidance the priority it attaches to this provision. Information on individual institutions can be found at the institution's website and performance information on Ofsted's website (www.ofsted.gov.uk)

Law Students

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what publicly-funded assistance is available to mature students to study law and subsequently train as lawyers.

Phil Hope: Mature students are generally able to receive support to study law degrees on the same basis as younger students and on the same basis as for other degree courses. For full-time students, new rates of student support in 2006/07 offer above—inflation increases in the amount of maintenance loan available to students (up to £6,170 in London). These maintenance loans are available to students under the age of 60. New fee loans of up to £3,000 ensure that no eligible student pays upfront fees. Student loans for maintenance and tuition fees incur no real rate of interest, are repaid only when graduate earnings are £15,000 or more and are written off after 25 years.
	A means tested HE maintenance grant of up to £2,700 has been introduced for new students, who will also receive institutional bursaries of at least £300 if they pay fees of £3,000 at a publicly-funded institution. Students with dependants can claim additional grants including adult dependants grant (worth up to £2,455), parents learning allowance (worth up to £1,400) and a child care grant (worth up to £8,840). In addition, student parents are eligible to receive child tax credit from the Inland Revenue. Some students are also eligible for university access to learning funds and disabled students allowances. Mature law students who do not qualify for undergraduate support may be eligible for a career development loan which has an element of subsidy from public funds.
	Part-time mature students receive the same support as other part-time students. In 2006/07 a fee grant of up to £1,125 is available, depending how intensive the course is, together with a course grant of up to £250.
	Mature students can apply for the training contract grant scheme (TCGS) which is administered by the Legal Services Commission. The TCGS provides financial support to law students wishing to work in the legal aid sector.
	The information given is in relation to England.

London Olympics (Building Skills)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what courses are available for citizens in east London to upgrade their skills so that they can apply for employment on the London Olympics site.

Phil Hope: holding answer 11 September
	In preparation for the Olympics, Construction Skills—the Sector Skills Council, have set up a team "Constructing London 2012" to identify the skills needed to deliver the Games. They are working closely with the Learning and Skills Council to identify training requirements for the site and Mark Haysom, the LSC Chief Executive, will write to you with further details. In addition, we are completing the national roll-out of the Train to Gain to service to help equip employees to upgrade their skills.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom:
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question in which you asked what courses are available for citizens in East London to upgrade their skills so that they can apply for employment on the London Olympics site. I am happy to provide the following information.
	In preparation for the Olympics a range of actions are already being undertaken:
	The London region LSC and LDA have published research that analyses previous Olympics and Paralympic Games helping to forecast the skills and employment opportunities that the Games will create.
	Construction Skills—the Sector Skills Council, have set up a team "Constructing London 2012" to identify the specific skills needed to deliver the Games.
	The London Employment and Skills Taskforce, as requested by Misc 26, have an action plan in the consultation phase which identifies specific projects and actions designed to help Londoners access the employment and learning opportunities driven by the Games.
	A £15 Million European Social Fund has already been contracted to deliver underpinning activity to support learners and build capacity across 3 regions, East of England, South East of England and the London, managed in partnership by the regional LSCs and RDAs.
	In addition, we are expanding Train to Gain in line with the recommendations of the Women and Work Commission to focus on training at level 3 for occupational areas where women are under-represented.
	The London Region LSC will invest in excess of £1 billion per year in post-16 education throughout London in the years preceding the Games. East London already has in place a wide variety of learning available to it's citizens throughout all 6 boroughs including e-learning, Apprenticeships, Skills for Life, ESOL and National Vocational Qualifications delivered through a comprehensive provider base including Further Education Colleges, Work Based Learning Providers, Sixth Form Colleges and the Voluntary and Community sector.
	As an example of current planning and investment, East London already has in place 4 major Further Education Centres of Vocational Excellence surrounding the Olympic site, specialising in Construction Skills at all levels, and working together as a One Stop Shop for construction learning and employment in conjunction with the local authorities and JobCentre Plus.
	I trust this is helpful.

Post-graduate Debt

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken to reduce the level of post-graduate debt.

Bill Rammell: Higher education is the best investment most people will make, with a substantial graduate premium compared with what a similar individual would have earned if they just had A-levels. There is now more money available to students from the student finance system and, where this is in the form of student loans, the debt incurred is quite unlike commercial debt. Students repay student loans after they have left university or college and only in real terms the same amount that they originally borrowed. Graduates do not pay back until they are in work and earning more than £15,000. Someone on the average graduate starting salary of £18,000 could be paying only £5.19 per week. If at any time their income drops below £15,000 the repayments will stop until they are earning more again. We have also provided that, if after 25 years students starting in 2006/07 or later have still not paid back all their student loan, the Government will pay it off for them.
	There are also new grants which should benefit up to half of new entrants to full time courses. From 2006/07 lower income students are eligible for maintenance grants of up to £2,700 and minimum university bursaries of £300, typically £1,000, which gives them the option to reduce potential loan debt substantially.

Pupil Performance

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the local education authorities in England in order of percentage of pupils achieving  (a) A* to A,  (b) A* to B and  (c) A* to C in five or more subjects including English and Maths at GCSE in 2006, stating in each case whether the local authority is selective, partially selective or comprehensive.

Phil Hope: Figures showing GCSE attainment in 2006 by local authority are not yet available. It is also not possible at this stage to calculate numbers of pupils achieving GCSEs or how many GCSEs they achieved. Provisional results, based on the information collected for the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables, will first be published as National Statistics in October 2006.

School Meals

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that school meals contain popular, nutritionally balanced staple foods.

Phil Hope: To ensure that school meals contain nutritionally balanced staple foods we have introduced new standards for school lunches. In addition the School Food Trust has issued guidance 'Eat Better Do Better—a guide to introducing the Government's new food based standards for school lunches'. The guidance explains why the new school food standards need to be in place, offers serving suggestions and gives advice on good practice to school caterers.

School Meals

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the average  (a) fat and  (b) saturated fat content is of manufactured potato chips (i) deep fried and (ii) baked in ovens as their final cooking method in schools;
	(2)  whether manufactured chips which are  (a) deep-fried and  (b) baked in ovens as their final cooking method are classified in the same way under the new food-based standard for school meals in terms of the frequency with which they are allowed to be served;
	(3)  when he has met the School Food Trust to discuss the classification of deep-fried products; and what advice and recommendations he has received from the Trust on this subject.

Phil Hope: The following data on the fat and saturated fat content of fried and oven baked chips is taken from the UK food composition tables McCance and Widdowson's "The Composition of Foods, sixth edition (2002)".
	
		
			   Fat g/100g  Saturated Fat g/100g 
			 Oven chips, frozen, baked 4.2 1.8 
			 Chips straight cut, frozen fried in blended oil 13.5 1.2 
		
	
	These figures are averages based on analysis of samples cooked according to normal domestic practice. They are not based on chips cooked in schools.
	The regulations that set new school lunch standards place restrictions on the frequency that foods which are deep-fried in the cooking or manufacturing process can be served in schools. This means deep-fried chips and chips that are 'flash-fried' during the manufacturing process and baked in ovens as their final cooking method would be restricted by the regulations.
	The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has not met with the School Food Trust (SFT); however the Minister responsible for School Food has quarterly meetings with the SFT. The meetings are an opportunity to discuss progress made against targets and policy issues, including school food standards. Deep-frying issues have been discussed in general terms although no specific advice or recommendations have been received.

School Meals

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which foods meet the relevant Food Standards Agency voluntary nutritional specifications for their category, but are excluded or restricted from school menus by the food-based standards.

Phil Hope: There will be a number of foods that meet the Food Standards Agency's voluntary Target Nutrient Specifications (TNS) for manufactured foods used in school meals but which are restricted by the new statutory school lunch nutritional standards in England. Of foods covered by the Food Standards Agency's TNS only savoury snacks and crisps are excluded by the new standards.
	The purpose of the TNS is to assist school caterers across the UK to choose healthier products for use in school meals. The TNS will help schools to meet the wider nutrient-based school lunch standards that will be introduced in primary schools and secondary schools in England from September 2008 and September 2009 respectively.

Schoolchildren (Bristol)

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children of school age living in Bristol local education authority area attend  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools which are located outside the local education authority boundaries; and what percentage of these schools are in the independent sector.

Phil Hope: We are unable to provide residency based figures for children educated in the Independent sector as the Department does not collect individual level information for pupils in the Independent sector.
	The information for primary and secondary schools in the maintained sector has been provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of pupils( 3)  residing within Bristol local authority  Number of pupils( 3)  residing within Bristol local authority who attend schools outside of the local authority  Percentage of pupils( 3)  residing within Bristol local authority who attend schools outside of the local authority 
			 Primary(1) 29,807 1,208 4.1 
			 Secondary(2) 20,162 4,272 21.2 
			 Total 49,969 5,480 11.0 
			 (1) Includes primary and middle deemed primary.  (2) Includes secondary, middle deemed secondary, City Technology Colleges and Academies.  3 Includes pupils aged 5 to 15 years, solely registered or main registration of dually registered pupils, excludes boarders.   Source:  School Census 2006

Schoolchildren (Expenditure)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent in real terms on each school child in  (a) England,  (b) Waltham Forest and  (c) Redbridge in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 1995-96.

Phil Hope: The available information is contained in the following tables. The Department is currently collecting the financial information for 2005-06.
	
		
			  Expenditure per pupil on education in Waltham Forest, Redbridge and England in financial year 2004-05—Real terms figures at 2005-06 prices( 1)  as reported by local authorities in their 2004-05 outturn statements as at 6 September 2006( 2) 
			  £ 
			   2004-05 at 2005-06 prices 
			   Primary school based expenditure per pupil( 3)  Secondary school based expenditure per pupil( 3)  Combined local authority and school based expenditure per pupil( 5) 
			 Waltham Forest 3,460 4,500 4,560 
			 Redbridge 2,890 4,050 4,290 
			 England 2,980 3,880 4,230 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			   1995-96 at 2005-06 prices 
			   Pre-primary/ Primary school based expenditure per pupil( 3,4)  Secondary school based expenditure per pupil( 3)  Combined local authority and school based expenditure per pupil( 5) 
			 Waltham Forest 2,550 3,380 4,020 
			 Redbridge 2,290 3,290 3,730 
			 England 2,180 2,960 3,420 
			 (1) Real terms figures calculated using GDP deflators as at 30 June 2006.  (2) 2004-05 data are subject to change by the local authority. All figures are rounded to the nearest £10.  (3) School-based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by local authority schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. The pupil data are drawn from the DFES Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.  (4). Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999-00.  (5) Combined local authority and school-based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in local authority maintained establishments and pupils educated by the authority other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school-based expenditure and all elements of central LA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA). Certain elements of central local authority expenditure cannot be attributed to a particular phase of education and consequently a sector breakdown is not available. Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under-5s funded by the authority and being educated in private settings (only available from 1999-00), pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and any other local authority maintained pupils. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

Schools (Outside Bodies)

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of schools permit activities of outside bodies on their premises.

Phil Hope: Schools may offer activities, both directly and through third-party providers from the private, voluntary and independent sectors, on their premises. They may also let their premises to outside bodies, such as sports clubs and community groups. The Department does not collect data on all such usage centrally; however, a baseline survey of extended services in a sample of maintained schools in 2005 found that 75 per cent. of primary schools and 97 per cent. of secondary schools permitted some outside use of their facilities. We are committed to ensuring that by 2010 all maintained schools in England become extended schools, providing access to a core offer of opportunities and services, including activities for pupils, family learning and adult learning available to the wider community. We are on track to achieve our target for 2,500 schools to provide this offer by the end of this month; and for half of all primary schools and third of secondary schools to do so by 2008. More than 10,000 schools are already working with their local authorities and with our partner organisation, TDA Development, to develop extended services.

Sexual Orientation Regulations

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the content of school assemblies will be covered by the sexual orientation regulations.

Phil Hope: The sexual orientation regulations currently being developed by the Department for Communities and Local Government are being put in place to prevent discrimination against individual pupils on grounds of their sexual orientation, or that of their parents or other people with whom they are associated. It is not the intention of the regulations to place a duty on schools to change the content of the curriculum, collective worship, assemblies or any other aspect of teaching in schools.

Special Needs Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken by his Department to increase awareness among  (a) parents and  (b) professionals working with children on how to support children with a speech and language disability.

Phil Hope: Parental awareness of speech, language and communication difficulties is very important. In 2005, the Department published a detailed information booklet for parent on speech and language difficulties under our Early Support Programme. This resource was produced in close collaboration with specialist organisations in the voluntary sector and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. It explains how children normally develop communication, language and speech, how adults can help in this, the difficulties that can arise and how to seek help from professionals.
	The Department has supported a longitudinal study by the University of Warwick looking into the learning needs of a group of children with specific language and communication difficulties, the characteristics of the current provision made for them and its impact, their aspirations for the future and the ways in which services can best support them. The results of the study are due to be published in autumn 2006.
	The Primary and Secondary National Strategies have also produced a range of support and guidance to schools and childcare settings on the teaching of English and the development of speaking and listening skills, including frameworks to help teachers meet the requirements of the National Curriculum. We are reviewing the frameworks to provide more detailed and up to date guidance for schools which will be available before half term. We have also provided national training materials—"Communicating Matters"—for practitioners in early years Foundation Stage settings to specifically support children's early language acquisition.
	The DfES and the Department of Health have jointly commissioned an independent scoping study to identify, for relevant professionals and other interested parties, examples of good practice in the effective delivery of speech and language therapy services to children and young people with special educational needs aged 0 to 19. A research team from Canterbury Christ Church University is carrying out the study and the fieldwork in currently under way. We expect to receive the final report on the scoping study early in the new year.

Special Needs Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he plans to change the statementing process for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Government have no current plans to change the statementing process. We are considering the recent report of the Education and Skills Committee's inquiry into special educational needs in which a review of policy is recommended and will respond in due course.

Special Needs Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if his Department will set national guidelines on assessment and categorisation of special educational needs.

Phil Hope: Guidance on carrying out statutory assessments of special educational needs are given in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2001), to which all local education authorities and schools must have regard. The code recognises that there are no hard and fast categories of need for assessment purposes. It identifies four broad types of need: communication and interaction; cognition and learning; behaviour, emotional and social development; and sensory and/or physical needs, but it stresses that each child is unique and that children may have needs that fall into more than one area. The code makes clear that children's needs must be considered on an individual basis.

Student Loans Company

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment has been made of the  (a) security and  (b) reliability of the Student Loans Company's IT systems.

Phil Hope: The Student Loans Company (SLC) routinely commissions independent security assessments before new online services are launched to highlight any weaknesses and addresses these prior to the service becoming operational.
	A major independent review of the single IT system, administered by the SLC and used by local authorities and the SLC to process and pay student loan applications, was conducted over the period June to September 2005 by Gartner Consulting, a recognised global leader in technology futures and evaluation methodologies. Gartner reported average system transaction times and the handling of peak volume throughput to be on par with industry examples and system availability when tested to be 100 per cent. within service level hours.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Advertising Campaigns

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advertising campaigns the Department ran between 2000 and June 2004; and what the  (a) date and  (b) cost was of each.

Peter Hain: Following are the details of advertising campaigns (excluding classified advertising for recruitment) which took place within the Northern Ireland Office between 2000 and June 2004, along with the date and cost of each.
	
		
			  Advertising campaign  Date  Cost (£) 
			 60 Second Car Checklist—aimed at protecting your car against car crime 13-22 December 2000 6,768.00 
			 6 Steps to Protect your Home—aimed at protecting your home e.g. from burglars 16 March 2001 5,943.15 
			 Going on Holidays—press advert on what precautions to take, actions to take when going on holidays e.g. cancelling newspapers etc. 5-18 July 2001 7,918.17 
			 Creeper Burglary—protection for your car and precautions to take. 7 September to 16 October 2001 7,314.08 
			 Stay Safe Stay Secure—aimed at the public's own personal safety in the home from intruders 13 October to 2 November 2003 112,241.97 
			 Reclassification of Cannabis 15 March 2004 4,324.18 
			 Stay Safe Stay Secure—As above 5-7 April 2004 56,777.80 
			 'Are you a Victim of the Troubles'—aimed at victims of the troubles in NI to raise awareness of the help available from the NI Memorial Fund March 2005 43,762.00 
			 Tender Invitations for supply of Equipment—this was for a scientific piece of equipment to be used in Forensic Science NI. As it was expensive it was necessary to go through the process of advertising. March 2004 897.92 
			 NI Fireworks Safety Campaign, Schools and Public Awareness 2000-01 38,759.41 
			 NI Fireworks Safety Campaign, Schools and Public Awareness 2001-02 15,047.04 
			 NI Fireworks Safety Campaign, Schools and Public Awareness 2003-04 23,500.00 
			 Total  323,253.72

Agency Staff

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what average hourly rate was paid by his Department to each employment agency for staff employed through agencies in 2005-06.

Peter Hain: We cannot provide the information requested by the hon. Member. To do so would be at disproportionate cost. However, the total amount spent by the Northern Ireland office, excluding its Agencies and NDPBs, on staff employed through various employment agencies in the financial year 2005-06 was £213,227.

Arrest Warrants

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many arrest warrants have been issued in respect of individuals released from prison in the Irish Republic in the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The Police Service of Northern Ireland advises that the information sought by the hon. Gentleman would require an examination of all relevant warrants and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Automated Number Plate Readers

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many offenders were caught by automated number plate readers in Northern Ireland in the last year, broken down by area.

David Cairns: In the last year 16,973 offenders were caught by automated number plate readers for vehicle excise duty evasion in Northern Ireland. The figures are not broken down by area.
	The PSNI has recently installed automated number plate readers in approximately 75 vehicles but at this stage it is too early to provide data on the number of detections.

Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office has not made any recent estimate of its carbon emissions. However, the NIO is committed to promoting sustainable development and is working with the Northern Ireland Departments on developing strategies which will include reduction of carbon emissions. In addition the NIO is a participant in the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund, which aims to offset all carbon emissions from ministerial and official air travel.

Child Arrests

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children have been arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland following attacks on schools and churches in each of the last three years, broken down by district command unit; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The PSNI does not keep statistics on the number of arrests made and to obtain such information could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Children and Young People's Action Plan

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to involve children and young people in the development of the draft Children and Young People's Action Plan.

Maria Eagle: It is intended to have a first draft of the action plan before autumn 2006. Consideration is currently being given to how we effectively involve children and young people in the first and future action planning processes. I also intend to seek the views of the all-party group on children and young people and other key stakeholders on how this can be effectively achieved.

Civil Servants

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants employed as civilian support staff in the Police Service Northern Ireland have transferred their status to direct employees  (a) in total and  (b) in each of the last five years; and how many have subsequently had their terms and conditions altered.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows the number of civil servants employed as civilian support staff in the Police Service of Northern Ireland that have transferred their status to direct employees from the start of the scheme in 2001.
	The change in status can only be achieved by internal promotion. The only terms and conditions of employment that changed on transfer related to pay.
	
		
			   Number of Staff 
			 2001 77 
			 2002 129 
			 2003 78 
			 2004 87 
			 2005 61 
			 2006 21 
			 Total number 453

Computing Equipment

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) USB (i) flash drives and (ii) memory sticks,  (b) compact discs,  (c) DVD-ROM discs,  (d) laptop computers,  (e) external computers hard drives,  (f) internal computer hard drives and  (g) desktop computers were purchased for use in his Department in each month since March 2005.

Paul Goggins: The table relates to equipment ordered for the NIO core during the financial year 2005-06 and is the total under each heading. Production of this information on a monthly basis could be done at disproportionate cost.
	The figures, in particular those relating to  (a), (b) and  (c) are approximate as there may be additional items purchased throughout the Department that we are not aware of.
	
		
			  Item  Number purchase 2005-06 
			  (a) USB (i) flash drives and (ii) memory sticks 57 
			  (b) compact discs 325 
			  (c) DVD-ROM discs 0 
			  (d) laptop computers 46 
			  (e) external computers hard drives 1 
			  (f) internal computer hard drives 23 
			  (g) desktop computers 129

Crime Statistics

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) incidents of criminal damage,  (b) domestic burglaries,  (c) offences against a person,  (d) sexual offences,  (e) fraud and forgery crimes,  (f) offences against the state and  (g) violent crimes were recorded in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in (i) 2004-05 and (ii) 2005-06, broken down by (A) urban and (B) rural area.

Paul Goggins: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Criminal Offences

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many criminal offences his Department has created by Orders in Council in each year since 1997.

David Hanson: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Hospitality

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 2004-05; and how much of that sum is accounted for by  (a) food,  (b) alcohol,  (c) staff and  (d) accommodation.

Peter Hain: Due to an administrative error the answer to the hon. Member's question was not submitted and I apologise for the late reply.
	We cannot provide the information in the format requested by the hon. Member.
	The information requested is captured under "hospitality", which includes food, alcohol and other related costs. The amount spent on hospitality by the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and NDPBs, in 2004-05 was £258,436.
	All expenditure of official hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting. The level of hospitality must be defined, and a broad outline of cost and numbers attending must be provided on all occasions before authorisation. Expenditure should be kept as low as possible, compatible with the occasion and the standing of guests.
	A necessary pre-condition for any entertainment or hospitality to be financed from NIO funds is that it will be in the direct interests of the Northern Ireland Office. While one cannot always guarantee that the benefit will be achieved, that must be both the intention and the reasonable expectation.

Departmental Hospitality

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on hospitality in each year since 2003-04.

Peter Hain: Due to an administrative error the answer to the hon. Member's question was not submitted and I apologise for the late reply.
	The amount spent on hospitality by the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and NDPBs, in each year since 2003-04 was:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 319,741 
			 2004-05 258,436 
			 2005-06 299,634

Departmental Hospitality

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by his Department on refreshments in 2005.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), excluding its agencies and NDPBs, is unable to provide an answer in the form requested by the hon. Member due to the NIO's financial system being unable to distinguish between money spent on refreshments and other hospitality costs. The total spend on hospitality, which includes refreshments, in the financial year 2005-06 was £299,634.
	To answer the hon. Member's question would involve a manual trawl of files which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost of departmental hospitality was in each Department in Northern Ireland, including the Northern Ireland Department, in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The following table sets out the total cost of departmental hospitality in each Department in Northern Ireland, including the Northern Ireland Office, in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Department  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development 45,800 53,021 77,697 86,481 97,169 
			 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure 30,387 36,056 21,721 22,260 34,901 
			 Department of Education 17,319 23,609 23,791 43,074 33,891 
			 Department for Employment and Learning 35,207 29,970 42,759 29,904 33,000 
			 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment 31,253 27,460 24,551 23,813 19,102 
			 Department of the Environment 10,544 8,273 11,804 10,600 21,118 
			 Department of Finance and Personnel 27,338 31,104 53,647 68,297 60,300 
			 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety 71,201 96,604 188,466 170,531 171,080 
			 Department for Regional Development 33,791 39,077 19,179 21,206 22,701 
			 Department for Social Development 17,440 16,622 15,865 25,947 26,270 
			 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister 109,228 149,993 93,703 63,974 71,599 
			 Northern Ireland Office 235,989 363,755 319,741 258,436 299,634 
		
	
	Expenditure incurred on hospitality by the NIO includes accommodation and hospitality for members of the royal family, visiting dignitaries and heads of state, and also hospitality for the representatives of business, voluntary and community sectors in Northern Ireland attending the annual garden party at Hillsborough Castle.
	The information in this answer attempts to provide expenditure on a consistent basis and may differ from that provided in previous answer as definitions of hospitality and treatment across Departments can vary.

Departmental Staff (Criminal Activity)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of his Department's employees have been  (a) dismissed,  (b) suspended and  (c) subject to disciplinary action for criminal activity in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: No members of staff employed within the Northern Ireland Office have been  (a) dismissed,  (b) suspended, or  (c) subject to disciplinary action for criminal activity in any year since 1997.

Departmental Staff (Sickness Absence)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1773W, on departmental staff, how many staff in each Department of the Northern Ireland Office have had two or more periods of sick leave of less than five days in two or more of the years for which he has provided figures.

David Hanson: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Staff with two or more periods of sick leave of less than five days in two or more of the financial years 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 by Department 
			  Department  Number 
			 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development 528 
			 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure 133 
			 Department of Education 140 
			 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment 187 
			 Department of Finance and Personnel 576 
			 Department for Employment and Learning 292 
			 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety 216 
			 Department of the Environment 449 
			 Department for Regional Development 620 
			 Department for Social Development 1,359 
			 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister 90 
			 Northern Ireland Office 208 
			  Notes:  1. The table provides the number of staff in each Department within the NICS and NIO who have had two or more periods of sick leave of less than five days in two or more of the years 2004-05, 2003-04 and 2002-03. The figures include industrial staff, where appropriate.  2. Staff from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Complaints and the Planning Appeals Commission are included in the DFP figure.  3. Staff from HSENI and OFREG are included in the DETI figure.  4. The HRMS files used to produce the NIO figures include NICS staff only for 2002-03 and NICS and HCS staff for 2003-04 and 2004-05.

Donaghadee and Comber Police Rapid Response Unit

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the likely impact on  (a) the police and  (b) the public of the recent decision by the District Policing Partnership to remove from Donaghadee and Comber the police rapid response unit.

Paul Goggins: The DPP has no statutory authority to make decisions in relation to operational matters. Any decision to remove the police rapid response unit from Donaghadee and Comber is a matter for the Chief Constable.
	The PSNI has advised that a restructuring of policing services has been commenced within Ards District Command Unit. This entails the centralising of response crews in Newtownards town and Portaferry. In addition, there will be an increase in the number of Community Policing Teams in Comber and Donaghadee.
	These changes have been introduced following examination of the nature and frequency of calls for assistance received from the public.
	It is the opinion of the DCU Commander that these changes will more closely focus police resources on the areas of concern raised by the various communities in the Ards DCU area.

Environment and Renewable Energy Fund

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria will be used to select homes for funding from the Environment and Renewable Energy Fund; what information on applying for funding has been made available; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I am pleased to report that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland launched the Household Programme on 24 July as the first initiative to provide funding for homes under the £59 million Environment and Renewable Energy Fund. Householders are eligible to apply for assistance under this programme, which will provide up to 50 per cent. of the cost of installation of renewable energy systems, provided they own the property and it is used primarily for domestic purposes. The grant will be offered on a first-come first-served basis.
	The programme is being advertised widely and information on applying for funding, including guidance notes and application forms, can be accessed on the DETI and Action Renewables websites; they can also be requested via dedicated freephone (0800-023-4077), text and e-mail services which are being widely advertised.
	Some funding from the Household Programme has been set aside to install 500 solar hot water systems in private households that are deemed to be in fuel poverty. Assistance at 100 per cent. of the cost of installation is available for these cases through the Department for Social Development. The criteria used to select homes for this assistance will be based on the eligibility criteria for the existing Warm Homes Scheme as well as conditions relating to the suitability of the property including suitable orientation needed to benefit from the solar energy. Selection will initially be carried out by the Warm Homes managing agent from the database of homes that have previously received other energy-related assistance under the Warm Homes Programme.
	In addition to the Household Programme, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will receive funding of £1.8 million over two years under the EREF to install 600 solar hot water panels in their stock. Installation will be applied to dwellings that are in heating conversion schemes and, again, suitability, including suitable orientation of the property, will be the key selection criteria.

Environment and Renewable Energy Fund

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes in each Westminster constituency have received funding from the Environment and Renewable Energy Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: On 24 July my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland launched the £8 million Household Programme as a major initiative within the Environment and Renewable Energy Fund.
	Up until now no households have received funding from the Fund.
	The Household Programme will provide up to 50 per cent. assistance to homeowners towards the cost of installing renewable technologies such as solar, wind, hydro, biomass or geothermal systems in their homes. A separate element within the programme will provide 100 per cent. assistance to those on low incomes.
	The initiative is expected to lead to a tenfold increase in the number of homes with renewable energy systems in Northern Ireland by providing support to 4,000 homes.
	In addition, the Warm Homes Scheme is being extended from the fund from 8,250 homes to 10,000, and 600 solar hot water systems will be installed over the next two years in Housing Executive dwellings.

External Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has paid since 2004 to external consultants who had previously been employed by the Department in any capacity within the previous five years.

Peter Hain: Due to an administrative error the answer to the hon. Member's question was not submitted and I apologise for the late reply.
	We cannot provide the information requested by the hon. Member. To identify those consultants who had previously been employed by the NIO could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Field Studies

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of including out-of-classroom learning in secondary schools in inspections by the Education and Training Inspectorate in Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: Out-of-classroom learning provides an important context for children and young people's learning and development. It takes place in almost all schools in all areas of the curriculum. I am satisfied that it is adequately dealt with, as an integral part of post-primary school inspections, by the Education and Training Inspectorate in Northern Ireland.

Implementation Structures

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the timetable is for establishment of each of the strategy for children and young people implementation structures; and what the selection  (a) process and  (b) criteria are for appointment to the implementation structures.

Maria Eagle: Structures to oversee the implementation of the 10-year strategy will be set up within the next few months. This will include the strategy planning and review group, which we are required to have up and running to advise on the strategy's action plan. We have not agreed the membership of the groups, nor have we finalised selection criteria at this stage. I intend to seek the views of the all-party group on children and young people and other key stakeholders on how this can be effectively achieved.

IT Contracts

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which IT contracts awarded by his Department in each of the last five years have been abandoned; and what the value was in each case.

Paul Goggins: No IT contract awarded by the NIO has been abandoned within the last five years.

Key Persons Protection Scheme

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the budget for the Key Persons Protection Scheme in Northern Ireland was in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The cost of the Key Persons Protection Scheme is given as follows, and the figures recorded include new works, maintenance and running costs, removal costs, some staffing costs and expenditure associated with travel. The costs are calculated in financial years.
	
		
			   Cost (£ million) 
			 2001-02 4.9 
			 2002-03 11 
			 2003-04 13 
			 2004-05 7.5 
			 2005-06 3.05 
		
	
	The increased expenditure during the period 2002 to 2005 reflects the need to provide physical home security measures for those whose personal details were compromised during the former year. This is also reflected in the numbers admitted to the scheme in 2002 and 2003.

MacGill Summer School

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his 19 July speech to the MacGill summer school, what definition he uses of a  (a) constitutional endorsement of the structures of policing and  (b) the practical service of policing in the community.

Paul Goggins: The Secretary of State's speech at the MacGill summer school simply pointed out the distinction between practical support for policing and political support for the governance structures of policing, which clearly have a particular resonance for republicans and nationalists in the light of Irish history.

Meetings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what meetings have taken place involving the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Police Service of Northern Ireland and senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church since 27 February; what information was provided in relation to  (a) each diocese fully within Northern Ireland and  (b) each diocese that straddles the border with the Republic of Ireland; when he expects to be in a position to make recommendations as a result of such meetings; and whether he plans to establish an independent inquiry into this matter.

Paul Goggins: Officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) met senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church on 8 March 2006.
	No meetings have taken place between the PSNI and senior representatives of the Roman Catholic Church since 27 February 2006.
	At the meeting on the 8 March 2006, the Roman Catholic Church provided statistics pertaining to the number of allegations of child abuse within the Roman Catholic Church within Northern Ireland.
	The Department have agreed to read and comment on the revised guidance produced by the Roman Catholic Church for the Northern Dioceses.
	On completion of ongoing consultations, all possible options will be considered including the need for an independent inquiry and recommendations will be made.

Meetings

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Scottish First Minister; and what subjects were discussed.

Peter Hain: Ministers have regular dialogues with ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Executive, discussing a wide range of issues of mutual interest. It is not our practice to disclose details of such meetings.

Northern Ireland Police Fund

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his oral answer of 28 June 2006,  Official Report, column 248, on the Northern Ireland Police Fund, what progress has been made in his investigation.

Paul Goggins: A full police investigation has been carried out in relation to alleged breaches of security within the Northern Ireland Police Fund. This investigation has now been completed and involved a comprehensive programme of interviews. No persons have been prosecuted as a result of this investigation. It would not be appropriate to comment on the operational detail of the investigation or on the question of charges being withdrawn as such issues are a matter for the Chief Constable and the PPS respectively. The Secretary of State has already confirmed that he will not call for a public inquiry.

Out-of-classroom Education

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of Northern Ireland teacher training courses' treatment of fieldwork as a teaching method in secondary schools.

Maria Eagle: I am content that teacher education as inspected and assessed by the Education and Training Inspectorate, is fit for purpose. However, individual teaching methodologies such as the treatment of fieldwork, are not inspected separately.

Parades

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many objections were received by the Parades Commission in advance of parades held on 17 March in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Parades Commission has advised that there is no record of objections to any of the parades on St. Patrick's Day.

Parades

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any discussions have taken place between the Parades Commission and organisers of proposed Ancient Order of Hibernians parades during August 2006 which are due to take place in or close to Unionist areas regarding talks between local residents and the march organisers.

Paul Goggins: The Parades Commission has advised that it is in the process of facilitating dialogue between band organisers and local residents regarding proposed Ancient Order of Hibernians parades during August 2006.

Paramilitary Flags

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further measures his Department plans to introduce to tackle the flying of paramilitary flags in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Flags (NI) Order 2000 governs the flying of the Union Flag from Government buildings. There are no plans at present to make any major changes to this legislation.
	"A Shared Future": Policy and Strategic Framework for Good Relations in Northern Ireland was published on 21 March 2005. It deals with (in part) the removal of inappropriate and aggressive displays of flags and emblems (specifically paramilitary flags and other displays which have the effect of intimidating or harassing).
	This is best undertaken as a common project with key agencies working collaboratively with the PSNI and local communities to remove such displays. The launch of Protocol between PSNI and key agencies in April 2005 provides for such a mechanism.
	Over the past year, individual PSNI District Command Units have been proactively working with others, as laid out in the joint protocol, to have flags removed through a process of consultation and negotiation. PSNI has also independently and unilaterally acted to remove flags when it has determined that the display of a flag is such as to justify enforcement without consultation and negotiation.

Policing

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on  (a) the role of the structures of policing in the Patten recommendations and  (b) the future of policing in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Government are fully committed to implementing the Patten recommendations. The policing accountability architectures put in place as a result of the Patten report have been a notable success and a model for others to follow. The Northern Ireland Policing Board is one of the key elements in this accountability framework.

Prisons

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the availability of illegal drugs in prisons in Northern Ireland; and what measures are in place to reduce the availability.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service acknowledges that it is essential to have detailed monitoring systems and trends analysis of the availability of illegal drugs in prisons. The Service has a detailed monthly monitoring system which includes:
	Prisoners who recorded a dependency or use of drugs or alcohol during committal screening;
	Number of adjudications for possession of drugs;
	Number of drug finds;
	Number of times police were called to the prison to arrest visitors for suspected possession of drugs;
	Voluntary drug testing;
	Deployment of Passive Drug Dogs (FDD).
	Complementing the statistical data, graphs and charts are produced which provide a trend analysis over six monthly periods. This information is disseminated within the Northern Ireland Prison Service and with the exception of sensitive information, is published on the NIPS website (www.niprisonservice.gov.uk).
	More long-term, detailed assessments are carried out by external, independent consultants based on anonymous questionnaires and interviews with prisoners. These assessments provide a clear insight into the nature and scope of substance misuse in each establishment. They also provide a solid foundation on which to build and develop policy. They, too, are published.
	The measures in place to reduce availability of illegal drugs in prison are set out in the "Policy on Alcohol and Substance Misuse" document which was published for consultation on 26 July 2006. It too can be accessed on the Northern Ireland Prison Service website.

Public Swimming Baths

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the provision of public swimming facilities in Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: Article 10 of The Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 states that each district council has statutory responsibility for the provision of leisure and recreation facilities within its area. Therefore the responsibility to increase the provision of public swimming facilities in Northern Ireland falls to district councils. The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure is sponsoring a competition to facilitate the development of an Olympic standard 50m swimming pool through the provision of a capital grant to the appropriate authority with plans to build such a pool.

Recruitment and Selection

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the money spent on recruitment and selection by the Northern Ireland civil service was spent on recruitment agencies and consultants in each of the last four financial years.

David Hanson: The following table details the amount spent on recruitment consultants by the Northern Ireland civil service in each of the last four financial years.
	
		
			  Amount spent on recruitment consultants 
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2002-03 418,810 
			 2003-04 724,693 
			 2004-05 395,722 
			 2005-06 196,230 
			 Total 1,735,455 
		
	
	It has not been possible to provide a figure in respect of recruitment agency costs due to disproportionate cost. These costs were largely incurred through the need to fill temporary vacancies.

Recruitment and Selection

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Northern Ireland civil service has spent on recruitment and selection in each of the last four financial years; and how many jobs advertised were subsequently filled during this period.

David Hanson: Recruitment Service of the Department of Finance and Personnel has responsibility for the majority of recruitment and selection, through external competition, to the Northern Ireland civil service. The figures in the following table represent the spend incurred by Recruitment Service within the years specified and the number of jobs filled.
	In addition, several departments manage directly some recruitment, mainly to fill temporary positions. The number of jobs filled by departments is included in the following table. The costs associated with this element of departmental recruitment and selection cannot be provided due to disproportionate costs.
	
		
			  Financial year  Costs (£000)  Recruitment Service appointments  Direct departmental appointments  Total appointments 
			 2002-03 1,848 3,045 1,240 4,285 
			 2003-04 1,916 3,744 1,193 4,937 
			 2004-05 1,782 2,631 852 3,483 
			 2005-06 1,685 2,201 807 3,008 
			 Total 7,231 11,621 4,092 15,713 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide a figure in relation to jobs advertised. Although some competitions do specify the number of jobs vacancies anticipated at the time of advertising, the majority of competitions do not. These are advertised in such a way as to provide departments with a pool of candidates to satisfy their business needs, at the grade advertised, within a 12-month period.

Reserved Posts

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions ministers have had with the Equality Commission on the eligibility of Irish nationals for reserved posts; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: No discussions have taken place between Ministers and the Equality Commission on this issue.

Reserved Posts

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been ruled ineligible for reserved posts in the Northern Ireland civil service in each of the last five years on the grounds that they were Irish citizens.

David Hanson: The number of people who have been ruled ineligible for reserved posts in the NICS as a consequence of their Irish citizenship in the last five years is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Number 
			 2001-02 0 
			 2002-03 4 
			 2003-04 1 
			 2004-05 2 
			 2005-06 2 
			 Total 9

Schools (Vandalism)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) state controlled schools,  (b) Catholic maintained schools and  (c) other schools in each board area have been attacked by vandals over the last three years; and whether each case was recorded as a sectarian attack.

Maria Eagle: The number of controlled and Catholic maintained schools attacked by vandals over the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Education and Library Board  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  Belfast
			  (a) Controlled (1)24 98 137 
			  (b) Maintained (1)27 100 196 
			 
			  Western
			  (a) Controlled 29 17 14 
			  (b) Maintained 27 23 22 
			 
			  North Eastern
			  (a) Controlled 107 141 133 
			  (b) Maintained 51 60 57 
			 
			  South Eastern
			  (a) Controlled 425 383 459 
			  (b) Maintained 75 100 70 
			 
			  Southern
			  (a) Controlled (2)259 (2)254 (2)265 
			  (b) Maintained (2)279 (2)273 (2)286 
			 (1) Figures from 1 August 2003 when Board started to keep computerised records.  (2) Figures are for calendar year. 
		
	
	The information for voluntary grammar and grant maintained integrated schools is not readily available and is currently being collected. I will write to the hon. Member with the information as soon as possible.
	Incidents of vandalism are not recorded as sectarian by the Education and Library Boards.

Security Passes

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many security passes have been reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen by staff in his Department by year since February 2004.

Peter Hain: The number of passes reported by staff in the Northern Ireland Office to have been lost or stolen each year since February 2004 is as follows:
	
		
			   Lost  Stolen 
			 March 2004 to February 2005 23 1 
			 March 2005 to February 2006 13 3 
			 March 2006 (to date) 6 1 
		
	
	This reply relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not cover the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland administration.

Sight-impaired Students

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to facilitate the inclusion of pupils who are blind, partially sighted and sight-impaired in mainstream education.

Maria Eagle: The introduction of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (SENDO) has increased the rights of children with special educational needs (SEN) to a mainstream education. Education and Library Boards (ELBs) assess and make provision for pupils on an individual basis, in line with the Code of Practice on the Assessment of Special Educational Needs and the Supplement to it, issued as a result of SENDO.
	All of the ELBs have staff qualified to teach pupils who are blind, partially sighted and visually impaired, including those staff attached to the peripatetic support services. In addition support is available from Jordanstown Special Schools' outreach service.
	Depending on the needs of the individual pupil, ELBs make available a range of aids to support learning, including large print literature, Braillers and appropriate ICT equipment and software. Schools themselves may also purchase specialist items through their dedicated SEN budgets.

Single Farm Payments

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the less favoured area (LFA) element of the Single Farm Payment will be paid in full in 2006-07; and when he expects the announcement relating to the LFA to be made.

Maria Eagle: The 2006-07 less favoured areas scheme will be an integral part of the 2007-13 Rural Development programme. This programme is currently under development and will be submitted to the EU Commission for its consideration and approval as soon as possible. Approval of that programme will enable DARD to accept claims and make payments under the 2006-07 LFA scheme.
	DARD will continue to keep the farming sector informed of developments and an announcement will be made before the end of 2006.

Speed Detection Unit

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the proposed new speed detection project will be rolled out in Northern Ireland; in which areas it will be tested; what budget has been allocated to the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The new speed detection project, known as SPECS III, is still at an early stage. Before the system can be deployed operationally, it must obtain Home Office Type Approval. This process is managed through the Home Office Scientific Development Board, with the assistance of police forces that are willing to practically test the equipment. SPECS III is at the beginning of this process and along with the Metropolitan Police Service, the PSNI is providing the testing capability for the system. In Northern Ireland it is to be installed and tested on the A20 dual carriageway between Newtownards and Dundonald. If successful, it is anticipated that SPECS III will be rolled out across the province. Initial costs for the pilot scheme are to be met by the equipment supplier with no budget implications for the PSNI at this stage.

Sports Facilities

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Government funding has been provided to local authorities for the improvement of sports facilities in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Under the Recreation and Youth Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, the Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI) is responsible for the development of sport including the distribution of funding to sport.
	The SCNI has invested £897,210 in the last five years to local authorities for the improvement of sports facilities in Northern Ireland. This sum can be broken down by local authority as follows:
	
		
			  Council  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  Total 
			 Lame Borough 40,930 — — — 8,375 49,305 
			 Banbridge District — 15,570 — 8,179 — 23,749 
			 Derry City — 40,542 83,714 38,100 65,606 227,962 
			 Antrim Borough — — 920 5,000 — 5,920 
			 Ballymena Borough — — 46,989 20,000 40,031 107,020 
			 Belfast City — — 80,174 — 36,952 117,126 
			 Carrickfergus Borough — — 3,517 33,033 — 36,550 
			 Coleraine Borough — — 9,422 — — 9,422 
			 Cookstown District — — 16,097 — — 16,097 
			 Craigavon Borough — — 41,524 — 15,623 57,147 
			 Limavady Borough — — 22,565 — — 22,565 
			 Lisburn City — — 7,400 3,000 3,600 14,000 
			 Magherafelt District — — 31,800 — 16,800 48,600 
			 Moyle District — — 20,728 38,325 40,241 99,294 
			 Newtownabbey Borough — — 10,722 — — 10,722 
			 North Down Borough — — 14,530 — — 14,530 
			 Omagh District — — 17,120 — 9,142 26,262 
			 Ballymoney Borough — — — 4,504 6,435 10,939 
			 Totals 40,930 56,112 407,222 150,141 242,805 897,210 
		
	
	Local Authorities have also been provided with funding from government departments as follows:
	 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
	DARD provided £28,821.67 of funding to Fermanagh district council in 2004-05.
	 Department of Social Development
	
		
			  Name of local authority funded  Amount of funding provided (£)  Reason funding was given 
			  2001-02 Nil  
			
			  2002-03 Nil  
			
			  2003-04   
			 Strabane district council 260,000.00 Provision of floodlighting, synthetic pitch and electrical installation 
			 Coleraine borough council 135,000.00 Improvement to playing fields facilities. 
			 Coleraine borough council 230,000.00 Ballysally multi-purpose sports facility 
			
			  2004-05   
			 Belfast city council 152,000.00 Clarendon Development Association—Playing Field and Pavilion Development Project 
			
			  2005-06   
			 Strabane district council 100,000.00 Melvin Hall—renovation and refurbishment 
			 Armagh city and district council 52,090.60 To provide a multisport area in Drumarg 
			 Armagh city and district council 42,184.74 To provide a multisport area in Mullacreevie 
			 Armagh city and district council 70,976.50 To provide a multisport area in Callanbridge 
			 Coleraine borough council 282,626.75 Ballykeel recreational facilities 
			 Belfast city council 75,599.00 Clarendon Development Association—Playing Field and Pavilion Development Project 
			  Note:  Funding listed includes both funding given to make improvements to existing sports facilities and funding given to create new sports facilities. 
		
	
	 Department of Finance and Personnel
	
		
			  £ 
			   Local authority  Amount provided 
			 2001-02 — 0 
			 2002-03 Cookstown district 150,000 
			 2003-04 — 0 
			 2004-05 Banbridge district 10,950 
			 2005-06 — 0 
		
	
	The total Government funding provided to local authorities for the improvement of sporting facilities in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Council  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  Total 
			 Larne borough 40,930 — — — 8,375 49,305 
			 Banbridge district — 15,570 — 19,129 — 34,699 
			 Derry city — 40,542 83,714 38,100 65,606 227,962 
			 Antrim borough — — 920 5,000 — 5,920 
			 Ballymena borough — — 46,989 20,000 40,031 107,020 
			 Belfast city — — 80,174 152,000 112,551 344,725 
			 Carrickfergus borough — — 3,517 33,033 — 36,550 
			 Coleraine borough — — 374,422 — 282,627 657,049 
			 Cookstown district — 150,000 16,097 — — 166,097 
			 Craigavon borough — — 41,524 — 15,623 57,147 
			 Limavady borough — — 22,565 — — 22,565 
			 Lisburn city — — 7,400 3,000 — 14,000 
			 Magherafelt district — — 31,800 — 16,800 48,600 
			 Moyle district — — 20,728 38,325 40,241 99,294 
			 Newtownabbey borough — — 10,722 — — 10,722 
			 North Down borough — — 14,530 — — 14,530 
			 Omagh district — — 17,120 — 9,142 26,262 
			 Ballymoney borough — — — 4,504 6,435 10,939 
			 Strabane — — 260,000 — 100,000 360,000 
			 Armagh city — — — — 162,252 162,252 
			 Fermanagh — — — 28,822 — 28,822 
			 Totals 40,930 206,112 1,032,222 341,913 863,283 2,484,460

Sunbeds

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many local authorities in Northern Ireland do not permit the use of sunbeds in their leisure facilities.

David Cairns: Of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland, 25 do not permit the use of sunbeds in their leisure facilities. The remaining council will close the one leisure facility that currently has sunbeds, at the end of the summer for refurbishment and when it reopens, sunbeds will not be provided.

Twelfth Celebrations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the revenue accruing to the economy in Northern Ireland through the annual Twelfth Celebrations; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: While Government have made no estimate of the revenue accruing to the economy in Northern Ireland through the Twelfth Celebrations. the Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, who is responsible for social development recently announced Government funding of £104,200 for the County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast to employ a development officer for three years to implement a strategy for the management of Twelfth of July celebrations within Belfast. The objectives for the post include: encouraging the Twelfth of July as an economic promotional day for trade and commerce in Belfast city centre and its main arterial routes; and, promoting Belfast in a positive light and encouraging visitors to watch the parade.

Vandalism

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many instances of vandalism were reported in  (a) Castlereagh and  (b) East Belfast district command unit in each year since 1990.

Paul Goggins: Crime statistics collated by the PSNI do not record a specific offence of 'vandalism'. There are a number of offences categorized under criminal damage and these are shown in the following tables, and cover the years from 1998-99 to 2005-06. Due to a change in Home Office counting rules in April 1998, statistics prior to that date belong to a different statistical series and are not comparable.
	
		
			  Castlereagh district command unit 
			   1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Arson 28 23 41 92 71 43 46 60 
			 Petrol bombing offences 4 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 
			 Explosives offences 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Criminal damage/malicious damage 670 874 866 1,207 910 784 738 889 
			 Other 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 
			 Total criminal damage 704 897 908 1,301 983 827 786 950 
		
	
	
		
			  East Belfast district command unit 
			   1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Arson 72 93 89 101 130 121 81 92 
			 Petrol bombing offences 8 3 6 6 10 2 2 3 
			 Explosives offences 0 0 4 3 15 0 5 4 
			 Criminal damage/malicious damage 1,760 1,821 1,954 2,101 2,174 1,440 1,289 1,484 
			 Other 1 1 2 7 7 12 18 24 
			 Total criminal damage 1,841 1,918 2,055 2,218 2,336 1,575 1,395 1,607

Vehicle Theft

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) thefts from a vehicle and  (b) thefts of a vehicle there were in each District Command Unit in Northern Ireland in (i) 2004-05 and (ii) 2005-06, broken down by (A) urban and (B) rural area.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is contained in the following tables:
	
		
			  Urban region—Theft from motor vehicles 
			  Recorded 
			  District Command Unit  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Antrim 13 123 
			 Ards 121 74 
			 East Belfast 321 178 
			 North Belfast 498 263 
			 South Belfast 1,123 637 
			 West Belfast 229 215 
			 Carrickfergus 50 31 
			 Castlereagh 232 162 
			 Larne 52 52 
			 Lisburn 525 435 
			 Newtownabbey 217 207 
			 North Down 148 120 
		
	
	
		
			  Rural region—Theft from motor vehicles 
			  Recorded 
			  District Command Unit  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Armagh 50 71 
			 Banbridge 66 47 
			 Ballymena 94 101 
			 Ballymoney 23 11 
			 Coleraine 198 142 
			 Cookstown 39 29 
			 Craigavon 223 285 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 68 83 
			 Down 206 195 
			 Fermanagh 159 144 
			 Foyle 188 201 
			 Limavady 58 87 
			 Magherafelt 11 30 
			 Moyle 26 10 
			 Newry and Mourne 238 407 
			 Omagh 42 43 
			 Strabane 34 21 
		
	
	
		
			  Urban region—Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicles 
			  Recorded 
			  District Command Unit  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Antrim 108 102 
			 Ards 99 84 
			 East Belfast 213 154 
			 North Belfast 498 344 
			 South Belfast 646 405 
			 West Belfast 423 452 
			 Carrickfergus 42 25 
			 Castlereagh 143 95 
			 Lame 40 29 
			 Lisburn 415 338 
			 Newtownabbey 182 139 
			 North Down 99 73 
		
	
	
		
			  Rural Region—Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicles 
			  Recorded 
			  District Command Unit  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Armagh 79 92 
			 Banbridge 48 54 
			 Ballymena 66 84 
			 Ballymoney 23 18 
			 Coleraine 97 59 
			 Cookstown 50 40 
			 Craigavon 151 119 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 99 96 
			 Down 143 146 
			 Fermanagh 53 38 
			 Foyle 251 278 
			 Limavady 46 49 
			 Magherafelt 22 35 
			 Moyle 23 19 
			 Newry and Mourne 311 266 
			 Omagh 44 50 
			 Strabane 42 38

Waiting Lists/Times

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting period was in each board area for NHS  (a) hearing aid tests,  (b) colonoscopy,  (c) neurophysiology,  (d) gastroscopy,  (e) cystoscopy,  (f) bone density scans,  (g) MRI scans,  (h) echocardiography,  (i) barium enema and  (j) CT scans in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Information on waiting times for each of the diagnostic tests listed  (b) to  (j) is not routinely collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on waiting times for hearing aid tests is not held centrally and will take some time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member with the information as soon as it is available and place a copy in the Library.
	I fully recognise that many patients are waiting too long for a whole range of diagnostic tests. I am determined to put measures in place to ensure that these waiting times are collected to give a more accurate reflection of the total waiting time patients experience from referral by their GP to completion of their treatment. I have established a dedicated team within the Department's service delivery unit to focus on waiting times for diagnostic tests. An exercise to assess diagnostic capacity and demand is due to be completed before the end of the summer and work is under way to develop weekly waiting time information for diagnostic tests.

Weapons

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many personal protection weapons on licence have been returned on request in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable informs me that statistics are not readily available to enable him to provide this information, and that such data could be obtained only at disproportionate costs to public funds.

Workplace 2010 Strategy

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the Workplace 2010 strategy on civil servants in  (a) Waterside House,  (b) Carlisle House and  (c) Orchard House in Derry to ensure that existing civil service jobs remain in Derry; and whether there are further plans to move jobs out of Derry.

David Hanson: The proposed Workplace 2010 contract includes the refurbishment of Waterside House, Carlisle House and Orchard House. The refurbishment programme will improve the working environment for staff, provide much more flexibility and increase the capacity of the three buildings. Current planning assumptions are that the existing staff will remain in Derry. Under Workplace 2010 there are no plans to relocate these staff out of Derry.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Approved Premises

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places in approved hostels in England and Wales are occupied by persons convicted of sexual offences  (a) on licence and  (b) as a condition of a community penalty.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Statistical information about the type of offences committed by offenders residing in approved premises is not collected centrally

Asylum/Immigration

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers deported from the UK in  (a) 2000,  (b) 2001,  (c) 2002,  (d) 2003,  (e) 2004 and  (f) 2005, were (i) of school age and (ii) enrolled in a school or college; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Information on asylum seekers enrolled in a school or college is not available. The following table shows the number of asylum seekers removed for the period 2004 and 2005, and includes those who were under the age of eighteen at the date of their removal. Data are unavailable for the years 2000 to 2003 due to data quality issues.
	
		
			  Removals, voluntary departures( 1) , and assisted returns of asylum applicants, including dependants, by quarter, in 2004 and 2005( 2,3) 
			  Number of asylum applicants 
			   Quarter 
			   Q1 2004  Q2 2004  Q3 2004  Q4 2004  Total 2004 
			 Total asylum applicants removed 4,090 3,790 3,595 3,435 14,915 
			  of whom:  
			 Adults 3,480 3,295 3,180 3,025 12,985 
			 Minors(4) 605 485 410 405 1,900 
			 Unknown(5) 5 10 10 5 25 
		
	
	
		
			   Quarter 
			   Q1 2005( 6)  Q2 2005( 6)  Q3 2005( 6)  Q4 2005( 6)  Total 2005( 6) 
			 Total asylum applicants removed 3,485 3,765 4,225 4,210 15,685 
			  of whom:  
			 Adults 3,115 3,335 3,825 3,760 14,035 
			 Minors(4) 370 430 395 445 1,640 
			 Unknown(5) * 5 5 5 10 
			 (1) Includes enforced removals, persons departing 'voluntarily' following enforcement action initiated against them, and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.  (2) Figures rounded to the nearest five, with * = 1 or 2, and may not sum due to rounding.  (3) Provisional figures.  (4) People recorded as being under 18 on the date of their removal from the UK.  (5) People whose date of birth is not recorded on the source database.  (6) Removals include those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities (470 asylum applicants, including dependants, in 2005).

Asylum/Immigration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants are in prison.

Liam Byrne: The information requested on the immigration status of prisoners is not currently available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Asylum/Immigration

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people awaiting a decision on indefinite leave to remain are receiving benefits.

Liam Byrne: Figures on the numbers in excepted categories who have lodged or may lodge an application for indefinite leave to remain and are in receipt of state benefits are not available. With some limited exceptions, migrants who do not have indefinite leave to remain are ineligible to receive public funds until such time as they are given permission to remain permanently in the United Kingdom.

Asylum/Immigration

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons were for the time taken for the publication of the most recent report by the Independent Monitor (Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002) submitted to Government in November 2005.

Liam Byrne: The final agreed version of the 2005 Annual report of the Monitor of certification of claims as unfounded under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 was formally submitted to the Home Office on 6 April 2006. The report was published on 27 April. The document submitted to the Home Office on 29 November 2005 was the first draft of the Monitor's annual report. This document was then subject to a period of consultation and discussion prior to being submitted to the Secretary of State. This included the provision of further information requested by the Monitor to enable her to complete the report and the correction of factual errors.

Asylum/Immigration

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date each of the reports by the Independent Monitor (Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002) were received by the Home Office; and what the date of publication was in each case.

Liam Byrne: The Independent Monitor of certification of claims as unfounded under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 has published two annual reports, covering 2004 and 2005 respectively. The final version of the 2004 annual report was received by the Home Office on 1 June 2005 and published on 21 July. The final version of the 2005 report was received on 6 April 2006 and published on 27 April.
	In each case the submission by the Monitor of the final version of the report was preceded by a period of consultation on draft versions.

Asylum/Immigration

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons were for changing the initial decision under the New Asylum Model to place eight caseworker teams in Croydon and instead to place these teams in Central London.

Liam Byrne: By April 2007, all new asylum claims will be managed as part of the New Asylum Model (NAM). NAM is an integrated process and this therefore points to the need to be close both to reporting centres and to hearing centres. Analysis of the geographical locations of asylum claimants in the London area showed two large clusters of claimants in North Central London and in West London. This was a reasonable fit with the locations of IND reporting centres: at Communications House in Central London and at Eaton House in West London, near Heathrow; as well as with the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal hearing centres in London EC1 and at Feltham in Middlesex. It was accordingly decided that it would be most efficient to locate the Asylum Teams as close to the reporting centres as possible. We have now found and signed leases on buildings in both locations. The experience of the first NAM team which was set up in Croydon in June 2005 was that few of the claimants lived in the Croydon area and were having to travel a long way to report to their case owners and this validated the decision we made.

Asylum/Immigration

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of foreign nationals illegally in the country; and on what statistical evidence such estimates are based.

Liam Byrne: The Home Secretary explained the position in his answer given to the Home Affairs Committee on 23 May 2006.

Asylum/Immigration

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants who have been released from prison and not detained have subsequently been convicted of armed robbery in the past two years.

Liam Byrne: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary updated the House in a written ministerial statement on 29 June 2006,  Official Report, column 19WS, regarding the release of foreign national prisoners without deportation consideration. The director-general of the immigration and nationality directorate (IND) wrote on the same date to the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee on the number of cases where foreign national prisoners were released without proper deportation consideration. A copy of this letter is available in both Libraries. Previous updates have also been provided to the House on the number of cases where foreign national prisoners were released without proper deportation consideration. In particular I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written ministerial statements of 15 May 2006,  Official Report, columns 40-41WS, and 23 May 2006,  Official Report, columns 77-81WS.

Asylum/Immigration

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employers  (a) between 27 January 1997 and 10 February 2003 and  (b) since 10 February 2003, have been investigated for consideration of prosecution by his Department or by any police force or other public authority for offences in any way related to or arising from the employers' alleged, intended or actual employment of illegal workers or facilitation of illegal immigration or other immigration-related offences alleged to have been committed by employers (i) under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, (ii) under the Nationality, Asylum and Immigration Act 2002 and (iii) under any other legislation; of these employers, how many were prosecuted and, of those employers prosecuted, how many were convicted; and, as regards the convictions, what were the minimum, average and maximum sentences imposed, both in total and broken down by legal characterisation of the offences.

Liam Byrne: There are no centrally collated reports on how many employers have been investigated for consideration of prosecution action by the UK Immigration Service, the police or other public authorities as decisions on whether or not to prosecute are made by individual departmental prosecution sections, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service. However, statistical information on those employers successfully prosecuted for such offences is published in the Home Office Command Papers "Control of Immigration: Statistics—United Kingdom 2005" and "Control of Immigration: Statistics—United Kingdom 2004". These papers are available on the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum/Immigration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of illegal immigrants entering the United Kingdom in 2005; and how many have since been deported.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not available.

Bail Statistics

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were bailed without being charged in the last period for which figures are available; under what circumstances this occurs; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Information on people who are bailed but not charged is not collected centrally.

Biometric Technology

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) planned and  (b) existing projects in his Department involve the use of biometric technology.

Joan Ryan: Planned projects in the Home Office which will make use of biometrics include:
	preparation for the addition of a second biometric in the UK ePassport;
	Identity Cards programme in support of the national identity scheme;
	UKvisas Biometric programme to ensure that all UK issued visas will use biometric identifiers by the end of 2007 or early 2008;
	Biometric travel documents;
	Biometric residence permit to be developed in line with common EU standards;
	IAFS+, extension of IAFS (Immigration and Asylum Fingerprints System) to accommodate the biometric visas and biometric residence permits;
	e-Borders programme, delivering a modernised border control, which is fundamentally more effective, efficient and secure to meet the future operational needs of UK border, law enforcement and intelligence agencies;
	FIND national database of facial images managed by the Police Information TechnologyOrganisation, PITO;
	PITO project to use face recognition to support FIND;
	LANTERN, a mobile fingerprint system under development by PITO.
	In addition there are a number of smaller projects some of which are partnerships with other organisations in the UK and abroad.
	Existing projects in the Home Office which make use of biometrics include:
	IDENT1 UK police platform for fingerprints and palmprints;
	UK ePassport: completion of its rollout scheduled for third quarter of 2006;
	IAFS (Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System), database of biometric data relating to immigration cases and asylum seekers;
	ARC (application registration cards) and the use of mobile quick check readers. ARC is a credit card sized plastic credential which contains fingerprint details of asylum claimants and others;
	RepARC (Reporting with ARC) programme to require asylum claimants to produce their ARC card at each reporting event;
	ISRP (Immigration Stateless Refugee Project) to collect fingerprint details from holders of the 1951 UN Convention Travel Document;
	VIAFS—Visa Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System, collecting fingerprints of visa applicants from certain countries;
	EURODAC—European-wide system in support of the Dublin Convention uses fingerprint data in order that member states can determine whether an asylum-seeker or a foreign national found present within a member state has previously claimed asylum in another member state;
	IRIS (Iris Recognition Immigration System), a free and voluntary way for air passengers to clear immigration utilising their iris image to verify their identity;
	Systems in prisons to prevent escapes by prisoners exchanging places with visitors;
	C-NOMIS (Custody-National Offender Management Information System). Fingerprint based for confirmation of prisoner identity against IDENT1 and PNC;
	Pilot of a Methadone dispensing system using iris recognition, at HMP Eastwood Park;
	Trial of fingerprint based access control to IT systems in prisons.
	As for planned projects, there are a number of smaller projects some of which are partnerships with other organisations in the UK and abroad.
	The Home Office is continuing to examine new technologies, and new ways of using existing biometric technologies, to ensure the protection of the public.

Body Searches

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are applied for clothed body searches  (a) in women's prisons and  (b) at ports of entry.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Prison Service has full, step-by-step procedural guidelines set out in the National Security Framework, accessible to all staff, on how rubdown searches must be conducted. In a standard level rubdown search the officer rubs down the upper and lower areas of the front and back of the body. Higher-level searches additionally include searching hair, feet and footwear. The power to search a passenger is contained in the Immigration Act 1971, Schedule 2 and in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004. However, this power is used sparingly and only in exceptional circumstances. An immigration officer, or a customs or police officer conducting the search under his direction, may invite any person to empty their pockets voluntarily as part of a search for documents. Detainee custody officers have a power under Schedule 11 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to undertake a clothed body search of a detained person at an immigration removal centre or a short term holding facility, including a holding room at a port of entry.

British Citizenship

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005,  Official Report, column 2353W, on British citizenship, what the percentage breakdown is by country of origin of applicants for each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 January 2006
	The information is presented in the following table. (This information has not been quality assured and is not a National Statistic. It should be treated as provisional management information and may be subject to change.)
	
		
			  Applications for naturalisation from Northern Ireland( 1) 
			   2001 (percentage)  2002 (percentage)  2003 (percentage)  2004 (percentage)  YTD 2005 (percentage)  Total 2001-05  Percentage 2001-05 
			 Afghanistan 0.0 0.6 0.0 1.2 0.0 5 0.3 
			 Albania 1.0 1.2 0.5 1.2 0.4 5 0.8 
			 Algeria 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.2 1.2 5 0.7 
			 Argentina 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.1 
			 Australia 0.0 0.6 2.6 1.8 2.0 15 1.6 
			 Austria 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Bahrain 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.1 
			 Bangladesh 2.1 3.6 5.8 1.2 3.2 30 3.3 
			 Belarus 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.1 
			 Bolivia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Brazil 2.1 0.6 0.5 1.2 0.8 10 0.9 
			 British Citizen 2.1 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 5 0.5 
			 British Dependant Territories Citizen (Territory not known) 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 British National (Overseas) 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.6 0.0 5 0.3 
			 British Overseas Citizen 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Bulgaria 0.0 1.2 2.1 0.6 0.4 10 0.9 
			 Cambodia (Kampuchea) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.1 
			 Canada 2.1 4.2 2.6 3.6 2.0 25 2.9 
			 China (Peoples Republic of China) 16.5 14.5 14.2 10.8 6.0 100 11.5 
			 Colombia 4.1 0.6 0.0 1.2 1.2 10 1.2 
			 Croatia 1.0 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 5 0.5 
			 Cuba 0.0 0.6 0.5 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.2 
			 Czech Republic 0.0 0.6 0.5 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.2 
			 Dominican Republic 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Ecuador 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.6 0.4 5 0.3 
			 Egypt 0.0 1.2 1.6 1.2 0.4 10 0.9 
			 Ethiopia 0.0 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.2 
			 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.6 2.4 10 0.9 
			 France 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.2 
			 Georgia 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Germany 5.2 0.6 0.5 0.0 1.2 10 1.2 
			 Ghana 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.8 5 0.3 
			 Greece 0.0 0.6 0.5 0.0 0.4 5 0.3 
			 Guyana 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.2 
			 Honduras 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.1 
			 Hong Kong SAR of China (Holder of Certificate of Identity or Document of Identity) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.1 
			 Hong Kong SAR of China (Holder of Special Administrative Region Passport) 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.8 5 0.3 
			 Hungary 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.2 
			 India 2.1 7.9 7.4 11.4 11.2 75 8.8 
			 Indonesia 0.0 0.0 2.1 0.0 0.4 5 0.6 
			 Iran 3.1 4.2 3.2 3.0 1.2 25 2.8 
			 Iraq 4.1 1.2 0.5 1.2 0.0 10 1.0 
			 Ireland 1.0 1.8 2.1 1.2 1.6 15 1.6 
			 Israel 0.0 0.6 1.1 0.0 0.0 5 0.3 
			 Italy 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Ivory Coast (Cote D Ivoire) 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.2 
			 Jamaica 0.0 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.4 5 0.5 
			 Jordan 0.0 1.2 0.5 0.6 0.8 5 0.7 
			 Kazakhstan 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.4 (2)— 0.2 
			 Kenya 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.2 0.8 5 0.6 
			 Korea (South) 1.0 0.6 0.5 1.2 3.6 15 1.6 
			 Kosovo 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.8 5 0.3 
			 Latvia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.1 
			 Lebanon 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Libya (Arab Republic) 0.0 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.8 5 0.6 
			 Macedonia (former Yugoslav Republic of) 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Malawi 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Malaysia 4.1 2.4 2.6 2.4 1.2 20 2.3 
			 Malta 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Mauritius 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.4 5 0.3 
			 Mexico 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.4 5 0.3 
			 Moldova 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Morocco 1.0 1.2 1.6 0.6 2.0 10 1.4 
			 Myanmar (Burma) 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.6 0.4 5 0.3 
			 Nepal 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.8 5 0.5 
			 Netherlands 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 New Zealand 0.0 1.2 2.1 0.6 1.2 10 1.2 
			 Nigeria 1.0 1.8 2.6 1.8 1.2 15 1.7 
			 Norway 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Pakistan 7.2 5.5 3.7 6.0 2.4 40 4.5 
			 Palestine 1.0 0.6 1.6 0.0 0.0 5 0.6 
			 Peru 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.6 0.0 (2)— 0.2 
			 Philippines 2.1 2.4 2.1 3.0 9.2 40 4.4 
			 Poland 0.0 1.8 1.1 0.6 0.4 5 0.8 
			 Portugal 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.8 1.2 5 0.7 
			 Romania 3.1 3.0 1.6 1.8 0.8 15 1.8 
			 Russia 5.2 0.6 0.5 3.0 3.6 20 2.4 
			 Sierra Leone 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Singapore 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.2 
			 Somalia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 South Africa 3.1 6.7 7.9 4.2 5.2 50 5.6 
			 Sri Lanka 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.8 5 0.6 
			 Sudan 1.0 1.8 0.5 2.4 0.8 10 1.3 
			 Switzerland 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Syria 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.4 5 0.3 
			 Taiwan 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.8 5 0.5 
			 Tanzania 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.8 5 0.3 
			 Thailand 1.0 2.4 1.6 3.6 4.4 25 2.9 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 (2)— 0.1 
			 Tunisia 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.4 5 0.3 
			 Turkey 2.1 3.0 3.2 4.2 3.2 30 3.2 
			 Ukraine 0.0 0.6 0.5 0.0 0.4 5 0.3 
			 United States of America 5.2 4.2 3.2 2.4 4.4 35 3.8 
			 Vietnam 0.0 1.2 0.5 0.6 0.6 5 0.7 
			 Yemen 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (2)— 0.1 
			 Zambia 2.1 0.0 0.5 0.6 0.5 5 0.5 
			 Zimbabwe 1.0 1.8 1.1 3.0 2.0 15 1.8 
			 Total 100 165 190 170 250 875  
			 (1) This information is based on the postcodes from which applications were made, and so does not necessarily show current Northern Ireland residents  (2) Indicates '1-2'

Business in Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the future funding of Business in Prisons.

Gerry Sutcliffe: John Lowe, the Director of Business in Prisons, wrote to Baroness Scotland in August 2005 requesting funding. The Minister suggested that he should speak with Neil Moore who was then the HM Prison Service National Voluntary Sector Co-ordinator, working in the National Offender Management Service Voluntary Sector Unit. A meeting was held between Neil Moore and Mr Lowe where Neil explained that there was no central funding available but that the organisation was eligible to submit a bid for the NOMS VSU grant round for 2006-07. The organisation did submit a bid for funding but the application was unsuccessful. The NOMS Voluntary Sector Unit received almost 700 applications for grants and, having identified Finance, Benefit and Debt as a Pathway which was under-resourced, had to reject applications that did not cover that area. There is a new grant round for 2007-08 with a closing date for applications of 15 September 2006 for which the organisation is eligible to apply.

Child Abductions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been abducted from the UK in each of the last five years.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	The answer addresses the number of recorded civil cases of child abduction or wrongful retention for which statistics are available. If a recorded case involves more than one child this would not be reflected in the statistics.
	Cases received by the ICACU claiming that a child or children have been abducted from England and Wales, or wrongfully retained in another country when habitually resident in England and Wales, in breach of article 3 of the 1980 Hague Convention are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2001 135 
			 2002 143 
			 2003 148 
			 2004 155 
			 2005 159 
		
	
	The Child Abduction Section at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) records statistics on cases of international parental child abduction or retention brought to its attention and where it has offered consular assistance to British nationals, rather than recording the total number of abductions from the United Kingdom. The FCO usually provides assistance in abduction and retention cases in countries which are not party to the 1980 Hague Convention. Statistics are not available before 2003.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003 240 
			 2004 295 
			 2005 208

Civil Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of his Department's civil service have experience of working as a police officer.

Tony McNulty: Details of an employee's employment history are not held centrally and to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate cost.

Committee on Treatment in Custody

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Howard League on the proposals of the committee on treatment in custody chaired by Lord Carlile, QC; and what response he has given.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Lord Carlile wrote to the then Home Secretary on 14 December 2005, giving notice of his likely findings and proposing a meeting either before or after publication of the Howard League's report. My noble Friend, the Baroness Scotland replied on 16 January, agreeing to a meeting to discuss the report. The meeting took place on 29 March. A number of the report's recommendations were addressed to the Youth Justice Board: the Board's response to these is published on its website:
	http://www.youth-justice-board.gov.uk/YouthJusticeBoard/Custody/CarlileInquiry
	The Prison Service is currently preparing its own response, which it plans to make available shortly.

Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Nationality, Citizenship and Immigration will reply to the letter dated 31 May from the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean regarding Ms Stephanie Caborn; and when his Department will return her driving licence.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the hon. Member on 12 September 2006. Ms Caborn's driving license was returned to her by recorded delivery on 11 September 2006.

Criminal Records Bureau

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information technology projects are being undertaken by the Criminal Records Bureau which have started since 2000; what the  (a) start date,  (b) original planned completion date,  (c) current expected completion date,  (d) planned cost and  (e) current estimated cost is of each; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has made significant investment in a number of projects, to enhance the quality, coverage and accessibility of its service and to deliver real changes and benefits to its customers. There are eight information technology projects being undertaken by the CRB, which have commenced since 2000. Of these, four are currently at the feasibility stage and costings and completion schedules have yet to be determined. These are: the I-PLX+ project, which aims to enhance the national police cross referencing database of local police force information (I-PLX), which is an important development in vetting and security checks, delivering significant improvements to the protection of the vulnerable; vetting and Barring Scheme: the CRB will continue to play a key role in the development of the new Vetting and Barring Scheme, introduced as a result of Bichard recommendation 19—entry to the scheme will be via a CRB check—and New Disclosure application form (DAF). The CRB has also been examining the feasibility of devising an upgraded Disclosure application form. A prototype of a new form has been produced, in consultation with a number of its customers and has been piloted with a cross section of Registered Bodies. As part of the feasibility studies, full costings will be prepared. The on-line application project aims to enable applicants to complete applications for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures via the e-channel. During 2005 the CRB developed a new Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). This is now being rolled out to all police forces and should be completed by January 2007, subject to forces' readiness to complete staff training and implementation. The framework will standardise the forces' approach to deciding what, if any, information is relevant to be released on a Disclosure. The framework also provides good practice guidelines for the wording of this information on the Disclosure, including consideration of the victim's age and mental capacity. With the introduction of the On-line Tracking Service, customers will be able to track the progress of a CRB check from receipt to issue, providing greater visibility of the process. The Registration Cancellation project aims to improve the CRB's assurance regime and enable greater support to its customers and Registered Bodies, whilst further eliminating risk.
	The CRB now has legislation, as a result of the recent Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, giving it access to a wider range of information that can be searched when carrying out a CRB check, for example that held by the British Transport Police, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the Royal Military Police. These are scheduled to come on stream during 2006-07.
	Details of the four ongoing projects which have started since 2000 are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Project name  Start date  Original planned completion date  Current expected completion date  Planned cost (£)  Current estimated cost (£) 
			 QAF (Quality Assurance Framework) 2005 31 October 2006 31 January 2007 £325,996 114,716 
			 On-Line Enquiry Service STAGE 1 May 2006 21 October 2006 21 October 2006 £314,093 314,093 
			 Registration Cancellation November 2004 28 October 2006 25 November 2006 £700,000 761,946.79 
			 New Data Sources April/May 2006 (1)— British Transport Police (BTP)(2) (3)— (4)45,962 
			 (1) Planned completion at various dates as data sources are rolled out (2) Go live 25 September 2006( 3) £1.2 million budgeted (4) For BTP

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) laptops and  (b) mobile phones his Department bought in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each category of equipment was in each year.

Liam Byrne: IT hardware including laptops used by the core Home Department is not bought by the Department but provided under a PFI contract by its IT service provider, Sirius (Fujitsu Alcedo Ltd). Details of any peripheral purchases made outside of this contract are not held centrally and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	Detailed records on purchase of mobile telephones by year are not available centrally and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay and Pensions Service

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total training budget for his Department's Pay and Pensions Service was for the financial years  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07.

Liam Byrne: The total training budget for Home Office Pay and Pensions Service, for the current and previous financial years is detailed as follows.
	
		
			  Financial year  Amount (£) 
			 2005-06 80,000.00 
			 2006-07 129,000.00

Departmental Pay and Pensions Service

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost was in each financial year of the Dale Carnegie training course which took place between autumn 2005 and autumn 2006 which was delivered to staff at the Pay and Pensions Service based at Litherland House, Bootle; how much of that sum is accounted for by  (a) moneys paid to the company providing the training,  (b) monies spent on the accommodation used for the course and  (c) the cost of releasing staff from their departmental duties; and what the total cost was of all other training delivered to staff at his Department's Pay and Pensions Service over that period.

Liam Byrne: The contract value for the investment in Team Working Programme, delivered by Dale Carnegie Training is £113,200. The main training events began on 5 April 2006. Accommodation and travel costs from 5 April to 21 June were £6,495.85. It is estimated that a further £13,000 will be spent on travel and accommodation to complete the programme. Staff costs arising from the programme are notional and are regarded as part of the Department's underlying commitment to provide management training and other development opportunities. For the 2005-06 financial year, spending against the HOPPS training budget was £56,734, against a budget figure of £80,000. The budget for 2006-07 is £129,000.

Departmental Premises (Security)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to ensure that no illegal immigrants are employed in the manned guarding of his Department's premises.

Liam Byrne: People employed to work on Home Office premises whether employed directly by the Home Office or provided by a contractor, are required to satisfy requirements on identity, nationality and immigration status. In the case of contract workers, these checks are carried out by their employers; under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 it is an offence to employ a person aged 16 or over, who is subject to immigration control and who is not entitled to work in the UK or to undertake the employment in question.

Departmental Telephone Lines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the money that is raised from his Department's 0870 prefix contact telephone number is spent.

Liam Byrne: The public inquiries telephone contact telephone number 0870 000 1585 was replaced with a geographic number in September 2005. Prior to that date any revenue generated was returned to HM Treasury, and not spent by the Home Office.

Deportation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the foreign prisoners who were released without being considered for deportation are believed to be in Essex; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 29 June and set out, in line with the Home Secretary's requirements, the most accurate data the Department currently holds on the 1,013 foreign national prisoner cohort released without due deportation consideration.

Deportation

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign prisoners have been released and not removed under sections 259 to 262 of the early removal provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 since they came into force.

Liam Byrne: Sections 259 to 262 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 are only used to release foreign national prisoners for removal.

Deportation

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy direction he has issued to police forces on the issuing of names and photographs of former prisoners who should be considered for deportation.

Liam Byrne: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has explained to the Home Affairs Committee on 23 May 2006 that this is an operational matter for the police. Discussions have taken place between officials from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on whether making public details of ex-offenders would assist in locating them. It is the considered view of ACPO that a decision should only be taken on a case by case basis as to whether to publicise the details of those individuals who are the subject of ongoing deportation action and still need to be located.

Deportation

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Ministers in his Department have responsibility for ensuring that foreign nationals are considered for deportation prior to being released from prison.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 3 May 2006
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has overall responsibility for the Home Office. I am Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality, and I am supported in this by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan) .
	The Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety is supported by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker).
	Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC is for Criminal Justice and Offender Management and she is supported by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe).

Drink-driving

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps  (a) to ensure that the law relating to drunken driving is fit for purpose,  (b) to evaluate recent cases where defendants have been acquitted on technicalities and  (c) to ensure the law is properly enforced against all those convicted of drink driving.

Tony McNulty: The operation of the law on drink driving is kept under continuous review by the Home Office chaired Drink Drug Drive Working Group. We have taken steps to assist police in their enforcement activities by making it easier for them to conduct tests for the presence of alcohol in a suspected drunken driver. Charging and prosecution are for the police and Crown Prosecution Service; decisions in individual cases, including decisions on the appropriate penalty, are matters for the courts.

Drink-driving

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of people charged with drink driving had not gone to trial within  (a) three months,  (b) six months and  (c) 12 months of being charged in the last year for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	During 2005, the estimated proportion of drink -driving cases which had not been listed for trial in the magistrates courts within three months of charge (in charged cases) or laying of information (in summonsed cases) is less than 0.3 per cent.
	The following table shows the estimated proportion of drink driving cases which had not been completed in the magistrates courts within three, six and twelve months of charge or laying of information.
	These figures are estimates taken from the Time Intervals Survey for criminal cases in the magistrates courts. The survey covers all adult and youth cases completed during two one-week sample periods in March and September 2005. The figures shown are for all cases where the most serious offence was either driving after consuming alcohol or drugs, or being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle.
	
		
			  Initial plea  Percentage of cases not complete  Margin of error( 1)  Number of cases in sample 
			  Within three months of charge or laying of information
			 Guilty 5.0 +/- 0.9 2249 
			 Not guilty or no plea entered(2) 68.3 +/- 5.0 328 
			 All cases 13.1 +/- 1.3 2577 
			 
			  Within six months of charge or laying of information
			 Guilty 2.3 +/- 0.6 2249 
			 Not guilty or no plea entered(2) 29.9 +/- 5.0 328 
			 All cases 5.8 +/- 0.9 2577 
			  Within 12 months of charge or laying of information
			 Guilty 0.6 +/- 0.3 2249 
			 Not guilty or no plea entered(2) 5.8 +/- 2.5 328 
			 All cases 1.3 +/- 0.4 2577 
			 (1) 95 per cent. confidence limits for the overall percentage of cases not complete during the year, expressed in percentage points.  (2) Includes cases subsequently withdrawn.

Fires (London)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer to Question 88959, on fires in London, how many prosecutions have been brought for arson and arson -related offences in each London borough, broken down by  (a) age and  (b) sex.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 5 September 2006
	Data from the Court Proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform showing the number of persons proceeded against for arson offences in 2004, broken down by London Court Area, sex and age, is provided in the following table. It is not possible to identify court proceedings for other offences involving arson because the individual circumstances of offences are not held centrally. Data for 2005 will be available in the autumn.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for arson offences by sex, age and London court area 2004( 1, 2) 
			   Offence: Arson endangering life  Offence: Arson not endangering life 
			   Statute: Criminal Damage Act 1971 S.1(1)  Statute: Criminal Damage Act 1971 S.1(2) 
			   Male  Female  Male  Female 
			  London court area  10-17  18-20  21+  10-17  18-20  21+  10-17  18-20  21+  10-17  18-20  21+ 
			  City of London Police 
			 Guildhall Justice Rooms — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Total City of London — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 
			  
			  Metropolitan Police 
			  Inner London Magistrates Courts 
			 Bow Street — — 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Camberwell Green/Tower Bridge 1 — 10 — — 1 3 — 2 — — 1 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich — 1 4 — — 2 1 — 2 1 — — 
			 Highbury Corner — 1 7 — — 2 — — 5 — — 1 
			 Horseferry Road — — 2 — — 1 — — 4 — — — 
			 South Western 4 — 1 1 — — 1 2 1 1 — 1 
			 Thames — — 2 — 1 1 3 — 1 — — — 
			 West London 1 — 2 2 — 1 4 2 3 1 — 1 
			  
			  Other London Courts 
			 Barking and Dagenham — — — — — — 3 — 1 1 — — 
			 Barnet — 1 2 — — — — — — 1 — 1 
			 Bexley — — 1 — — — 1 1 2 1 — — 
			 Brent — — 3 — — 1 — 2 1 — — — 
			 Bromley — 1 3 — — 1 1 2 2 1 — — 
			 Croydon — — 2 — — — — 2 5 — — — 
			 Ealing — — 3 — — 1 2 — 3 — — — 
			 Enfield — — — — — 1 — 2 — 1 — — 
			 Haringey — — 1 — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Harrow 2 — — — — — — — 3 — — — 
			 Havering — — — — — 2 2 — 2 — — — 
			 Hillingdon — — 4 — — — 4 — 1 1 — — 
			 Hounslow — — 1 — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames — — — — — — — — 2 — — — 
			 Merton — — — — — 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Newham 1 — 2 — — — 2 — 2 — — — 
			 Redbridge — — — — — — 4 — 2 1 — — 
			 Richmond upon Thames — — 1 — — — 1 1 1 — — — 
			 Sutton — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Waltham Forest — — 1 — — — 1 — — — — — 
			  
			 Total Metropolitan Police 9 4 53 3 1 15 35 14 47 10 — 5 
			  
			 Total Greater London 9 5 53 3 1 15 35 14 47 10 — 5 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2 )These data are provided on the principal offence basis.

Foreign Criminals

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of whether any of the convicted foreign nationals who were released without being considered for deportation are on the electoral roll; and whether steps are being taken to check the electoral roll to identify them.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 25 May 2006
	Checks on all those foreign national prisoners who were released without consideration of deportation action have been carried out on an individual basis. These checks were conducted on a case-by-case basis and not collated centrally and so the overall results are available only at disproportionate cost.

Foreign Criminals

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in descending order according to the number of prisoners concerned the countries of origin of foreign national prisoners who have  (a) been released without consideration for deportation and  (b) been deported from Northern Ireland since February 1999.

Liam Byrne: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement of 29 June 2006,  Official Report, column 19WS, made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. In this statement he explained that the Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) had written to the Home Affairs Committee on 29 June providing the most accurate data available at that time on the 1013 individuals who were released without deportation consideration. This information was collated centrally and quality assured by the Department and is the most accurate and robust data currently available to the Department. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library of the House along with previous statistical information on those foreign nationals released without deportation consideration.

Foreign Criminals

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants employed by his Department are engaged in duties related to the release of foreign offenders.

Liam Byrne: Within the Department the number of employees engaged in duties relating to the release of foreign offenders is not disaggregated from the overall number of employees and therefore not readily available.

Foreign Criminals

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals who were not deported after release from prison were released early; and how many of these were not interviewed by the parole board.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not centrally available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Foreign Criminals

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long a foreign national who has committed a crime in the UK may be detained when there is little prospect of their home country supporting their deportation.

Liam Byrne: Where a deportation order is in force against any person, the Secretary of State may give directions for the person's removal to either a country of which he is a national or citizen, or a country or territory to which there is reason to believe that he will be admitted. Immigration Act powers to detain are not time-limited. However, domestic and ECHR case law provides that detention must last for no longer than is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is authorised and must not be of excessive duration. In the case of a person being deported or removed from the UK detention would be lawful provided there was a realistic prospect of deportation or removal within a reasonable period of time. Where a detainee refuses to cooperate with the removal process detention may be prolonged and the risk of reoffending is a factor that may be taken into account in determining whether the duration of a person's detention is reasonable. This position has been supported by the Courts.

Foreign Criminals

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2006 to Questions 68218, 68529, 68530 and 68531, on deportation of foreign prisoners, how many of the nine named individuals have been deported since serving their sentences.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 17 July 2006
	As I advised the hon. Member previously, it is not the Department's policy to comment in the public domain on individual cases.

Foreign Criminals

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) instructions and  (b) guidance relating to foreign national prisoners he has issued to (i) the Governor of each prison in Gloucestershire, (ii) the Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary, (iii) the Chairman of Gloucestershire Police Authority and (iv) the head of the Probation Service in Gloucestershire; and if he will place copies of that guidance in the Library.

Liam Byrne: A revised Prison Service Order (PSO 4630) on Immigration and Foreign Nationals was issued to all prisons, including those in Gloucestershire on 17 July.
	No additional instructions or guidance were issued by the Department to the Chief Constable for Gloucestershire or the Chairman of Gloucestershire Police Authority. Normal procedures for dealing with prisoners locally were applied.
	The National Probation Directorate issued a Probation Circular to all chief officers on 5 June which set out the requirements in relation to the management of foreign national prisoners subject to statutory supervision and advising them to implement a system to provide regular checks on their supervision.

Foreign Criminals

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign prisoners are held in UK prisons; and how many of them  (a) came to the UK (i) on a visitor's visa, (ii) on a work permit and (iii) as asylum seekers known to the authorities but not granted asylum,  (b) were not known to the authorities before their arrest and  (c) were citizens of other EU countries.

Liam Byrne: In respect of information on the nationality of foreign nationals held in prison establishments in England and Wales I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, gave to the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) on 18 July 2006,  Official Report, column 403W. The information requested on the immigration status of foreign nationals held in UK prisons is not recorded centrally and only available through examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost. In a written ministerial statement of 19 July 2006,  Official Report, column 29WS, I set out the progress the Department is making in respect of improving our processes for dealing with and removing foreign national prisoners.

Foreign Criminals

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether foreign criminals deported after serving their sentences can be prevented from re-entering the United Kingdom when their countries subsequently join the European Union.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 8 May 2006
	A person entering or seeking to enter the United Kingdom in breach of a Deportation Order (DO) is an illegal entrant as defined in section 33(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 and so is not permitted to seek re-entry to the United Kingdom. Records of individuals deported from the UK are added to the UK's Immigration database deployed at all UK border control points, against which those seeking entry to the UK are routinely checked. An individual who was deported from the United Kingdom prior to their country acceding to the European Union, and thus prior to their acquisition of rights of movement under EC law, would not be able to exercise the right of free movement without first seeking to have the deportation order revoked.

Foreign Criminals

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer of 17 May 2006,  Official Report, column 991 to the Leader of the Opposition, how many foreign nationals sentenced to serve a prison sentence have been deported at the halfway point of their sentence under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 since the Act came into force.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not centrally available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost

Foreign Criminals

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost was of holding  (a) non-British EU nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals in prisons in England and Wales in the last year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The Prison Service does not collate centrally the cost of keeping individual prisoners, broken down by their nationality.

Foreign Criminals

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in UK prisons are citizens of  (a) Albania,  (b) Romania,  (c) Turkey and  (d) Poland; and what percentage of the overall prison population each figure represents.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 11 September 2006
	The table gives the numbers of prisoners held in prison establishments in England and Wales who were citizens of  (a) Albania,  (b) Romania,  (c) Turkey and  (d) Poland at 31 December 2005. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and so is not necessarily accurate to the last whole number. As the written ministerial statement of 19 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 28-30WS, from my hon. Friend the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality indicated, the Home Secretary has identified eight priority areas to be addressed in order to improve the effectiveness of arrangements for deporting foreign national prisoners. The second of these priority areas is that there is currently no legal requirement for prisoners to provide evidence of their nationality, or consistent processes for nationality to be recorded. Before the summer, staff in IND and the criminal justice agencies worked together to design possible ways of addressing this gap, including a new legal requirement. A programme of activities is currently in hand, managed through the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, to test the options with frontline staff across the criminal justice system and to examine their feasibility and relative merits, in order for recommendations to be produced by the end of October. Information on the numbers of foreign national prisoners serving prison sentences in prison establishments in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office respectively.
	
		
			  Listed foreign national prisoners in prison establishments in England and Wales as at 31 December 2005 
			   Number of prisoners  As percentage of prison population 
			 Albania 122 0.2 
			 Poland 155 0.2 
			 Romania 142 0.2 
			 Turkey 294 0.4 
			 Total prison establishment population 74,194

Helicopter Searches

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 40W, on helicopter searches, for what reason the police helicopter based at Luton was used in this search rather than the one based at RAF Benson.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 5 May 2006
	The police helicopters based at RAF Benson and Luton are constituent parts of the Chiltern Air Support Consortium. The duty period for the police helicopter based at RAF Benson ended at 02.30 on 18 July 2003. The new duty period commenced at 08.00 on 18 July. Therefore the two flights that were made in support of the search for Dr. David Kelly on the 18 July 2003 were made by the police helicopter based at Luton. The first flight was from 02.50 until 04.05, followed by a refuel at RAF Benson and a second flight from 04.30 until 05.10.

Hunting

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted under the provisions of the Hunting Act 2004 since November 2005.

Tony McNulty: The Hunting Act 2004 came into force on 18 February 2005. Data on the number of prosecutions in 2005 will be available in the autumn.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to address the issues identified with his Department's planned identity card scheme by the Science and Technology Committee; on what date the first identity card will be issued; how much has been spent on the scheme; and when he expects to be able to produce accurate total costings for the scheme.

Joan Ryan: The Government welcomes the Report from the Science and Technology Committee and is grateful for the attention they have given to this crucial element of our plans to enhance the security of all legal residents of the UK. We are considering the report very closely and will give a full response in due course. ID cards will be implemented as rapidly as possible, starting with biometric residence permits for foreign nationals in 2008, and rolling out to UK nationals thereafter. With regard to past spending on the identity cards scheme, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Clegg) on 19 July 2006,  Official Report, column 553W. A report on projected costs of the scheme over the next ten years will be laid before Parliament as required by Section 37 of the Identity Cards Act on 9 October. A written ministerial statement explained on 20 July that the report would have been due on 30 September but, because of the dates of recess, will be laid before Parliament on its return. The report cannot be laid when Parliament is not sitting.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the fax from the hon. Member for Edinburgh West of 31 May with regard to Ghanzanfar Ali.

Liam Byrne: The hon. Gentleman's inquiry has now been dealt with and I understand that he no longer wishes to pursue this question.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total  (a) cost to callers and  (b) revenue to his Department was from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate number 0870 606 7766 in each year that the number has been in operation.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 29 June 2006
	Information on call charges and revenue for phone number 0870 606 7766 is available for the financial years April 2002 to March 2006 presented in the following table. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) ceased taking any revenue from this number from 1 April 2005.
	
		
			  £ 
			  April to March  Cost to callers  IND revenue 
			 2002-03 504,166.00 88,333.00 
			 2003-04 549,496.00 97,212.00 
			 2004-05 639,549.00 108,151.00 
			 2005-06 741,388.00 0.00

Information Technology

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) USB (i) flash drives and (ii) memory sticks,  (b) compact discs,  (c) DVD-ROM discs,  (d) laptop computers,  (e) external computers hard drives,  (f) internal computer hard drives and  (g) desktop computers were purchased for use in his Department in each month since March 2005.

Liam Byrne: IT hardware used by the core Home Department is not purchased but provided under a PFI contract by its IT service provider, Sirius. Details of any peripheral purchases made outside of the Sirius contract are not held centrally and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Inter-country Marriage

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to announce the outcome of his review of the restrictions on marriage between UK citizens and non-UK citizens.

Liam Byrne: The High Court has found the certificate of approval regime incompatible with ECHR on two grounds: that it discriminated against non-Church of England marriages and that it was disproportionate in not seeking evidence other than immigration status to establish whether or not a marriage was genuine. We shall be appealing the second part of the judgment on proportionality grounds and will await the outcome of that appeal before proceeding with any further review. In parallel we are working with the Department of Constitutional Affairs and the Church of England to consider how best to respond to the court's judgment on the discrimination point.

Malicious Damage Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) males and  (b) females have been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted in England and Wales of offences under sections (A) 35 and (B) 36 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.

Tony McNulty: Information taken from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of males and females proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of criminal damage, England and Wales, 2004 is contained in the table.
	It is not possible to separate prosecution and conviction data under sections 35 and 36 of the Malicious Damages Act 1861 from data relating to other offences of criminal damage.
	
		
			  Number of males and females proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for criminal damage—England and Wales, 2004( 1) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			   Male  Female  Male  Female 
			 Criminal damage endangering life (excluding arson)(2) 174 29 103 18 
			 Other criminal damage(3) 12,032 1,327 8,157 972 
			 (1) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.  (2) Includes offences under Explosive Substances Act 1883 S.2 (in part) and S.3 (in part), Malicious Damage Act 1861 SS 35, 36, 47 and 48, Criminal Damage Act 1971 S.1(2).  (3) Includes offences under Explosive Substances Act 1883 S.2 (in part) and S.3 (in part), Malicious Damage Act 1861 SS 35, 36, 47 and 48, Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Area Act 1979 S.28(1), Post Office Act 1953 S.60, Criminal Damage Act 1971 S.1(1) (value over £5,000 or at the same time as another offence).

MI5

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlie the increase between 2001 and 2005 in the number of personal files held by MI5.

Tony McNulty: The main factors are the increase in Security Service workload and resources in the wake of the 9/11 and subsequent terror attacks.

MI5

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 6 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1328W, on MI5, what other categories of MI5 file there are in addition to personal files; and how many files are held in each category.

Tony McNulty: In addition to personal files, the Security Service holds files on its policies, internal management matters, subjects and groups it studies, and on people and groups not under investigation—this last category includes those to whom security advice has been given.
	It would be of disproportionate cost to establish the numbers of files in each category.

Ministerial Offices

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times his ministerial office has been decorated in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: As the Home Office has only occupied 2 Marsham Street since 2005, none of the ministerial offices have been decorated since. The Secretary of State for the Home Department's ministerial office at 50 Queen Anne's Gate was not decorated during the last three years of occupancy.

Murderers

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many convicted murderers have had their tariff set after sentencing since the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003;
	(2)  how many convicted murderers who have been sentenced are waiting for their tariff to be set by a High Court judge.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	There have been 418 convicted murderers sentenced who are awaiting their tariff and 282 have had their tariff set since the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Open Prisons (Deportees)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people held in open prisons while awaiting deportation absconded in each year between 2001 and 2005;
	(2)  how many people awaiting deportation were held in open prisons on 31 December  (a) 2005,  (b) 2004,  (c) 2003,  (d) 2002 and  (e) 2001;
	(3)  what guidance he has issued on the holding in open prisons of those awaiting deportation; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of people awaiting deportation who have absconded or have been held in open conditions is not held centrally in the format requested and may only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. The Prison Service reviewed the criteria for the categorisation and allocation of foreign national prisoners to open conditions earlier this year. The review concluded that no changes to the security re-categorisation policy were required. However, governors were advised that before a foreign national prisoner was approved for open conditions the individual risk was to be assessed on the assumption that deportation will take place unless a decision not to deport had already been taken by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Outsourcing

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what administrative functions for which his Department is responsible are outsourced overseas; and what assessment he has made of the merits of outsourcing further such functions overseas.

Liam Byrne: None of the core Home Office administrative functions for which the Home Department is responsible are outsourced overseas.

Paid Leave

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff in his Department have been on paid leave for more than  (a) six months,  (b) a year and  (c) two years; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 June 2006
	The following figures are as of 12 June 2006 and include staff in the central Home Office, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and HM Prison Service.
	To breakdown these figures further may lead to the identification of individuals and breach confidentiality.
	
		
			  Number of staff who have been on paid leave 
			  Time line  Actual staff  Percentage of all staff 
			 6 months to1 year 26 0.04 
			 1 year to 2 years 20 0.03 
			 More than 2 years 8 0.01

Physical Evidence Gathering Protocol

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the physical evidence-gathering protocol was introduced; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I will write to the hon. Member separately.

Police

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much police forces in England and Wales have spent on interpreters in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Police

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) own force investigations,  (b) supervised investigations,  (c) managed investigations and  (d) independent investigations have been carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission in each year since it was established.

Tony McNulty: The Independent Police Complaints Commission is an independent body responsible for the management of the police complaints system. I will ensure that the chairman receives a copy of the question and replies to the hon. Gentleman directly. Copies of the letter containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the House Libraries.

Police

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigators have been employed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission in each year since it was established; and how many were budgeted for in each year.

Tony McNulty: The Independent Police Complaints Commission is an independent body responsible for the management of the police complaints system. I will ensure that the chairman receives a copy of the question and replies to the hon. Gentleman directly. Copies of the letter containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the House Libraries.

Police

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the Independent Police Complaints Commission supervised and managed investigations are not conducted by police officers from the force being investigated; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Independent Police Complaints Commission is an independent body responsible for the management of the police complaints system. I will ensure that the chairman receives a copy of the question and replies to the hon. Gentleman directly. Copies of the letter containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the House Libraries.

Police

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications made to become police community support officers were  (a) approved and  (b) rejected in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: This information is not held centrally.

Police

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 6 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1332W, on police, what factors led to the decision to make the police helicopter based at RAF Benson available for tasking from 17.35 on 17 July.

Tony McNulty: The police helicopter at RAF Benson was undergoing maintenance on 17 July 2003 until 17.35 when it was available for tasking until the end of its duty period at 02.30 on 18 July. It was available for tasking again from 08.00 on 18 July until 02.30 on 19 July.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in each year since its inception in  (a) England and  (b) Essex; and how many have been upheld in each case.

Tony McNulty: The Independent Police Complaints Commission is responsible for the management of the police complaints system. I will ensure that the chairman receives a copy of the question and replies to the hon. Gentleman directly. Copies of the letter containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the House Libraries.

Prisons

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign prisoners are being held in open prisons; and how many have absconded from such prisons in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 16 May 2006
	On 29 August 2006, 139 foreign national prisoners were being held within open conditions. Of these, 10 were having their nationality verified by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. It is not possible to identify the number of absconds in 2005-06 who were foreign nationals except at disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals were released from each UK prison in each of the last five years; and how many of these prisoners were considered for deportation.

Liam Byrne: Comprehensive statistical information on discharges is not centrally available, and providing information based on manually stored records could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the prison population is receiving the state pension.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Prisoners are not entitled to receive the state pension while in prison.

Prisons

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the largest sum is that a prisoner has earned in a year while working in a job inside or outside the prison in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on individual prisoners' wages is not held centrally. Payment for prisoners who work within prisons is set out in PSO 4460 and I have placed a copy of this in the Library. Those working outside the prison for an external employer are paid the same rates as normal employees.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what strategy he has to tackle corruption in the Prison Service.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Prison Service's policy on tackling corruption is set out in Prison Service Order 1215 and can be viewed at: www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/resourcecentre/psispsos/listpsos/

Private Sector Fund Recipients

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from his Department in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The following tables give details of the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Top 10 non-public sector entities 
			  2005-06  Amount (£) 
			 Sodexho Pass Ltd. 103,004,397 
			 Fujitsu Services (Alcedo) Ltd. 64,956,332 
			 Field Fisher Waterhouse 62,136,929 
			 Clearsprings Management Ltd. 50,057,005 
			 Atos Origin II Services UK 43,503,268 
			 GSL UK Ltd. 41,845,986 
			 Annes Gate Property Plc 39,560,588 
			 Securicor Custodial Services 39,353,748 
			 Bridgend Custodial Services Ltd. 37,918,811 
			 Steria Ltd. 35,085,591 
		
	
	
		
			  2004-05 
			   Amount (£) 
			 Sodexho Pass Ltd. 86,159,241 
			 Fujitsu Services (Alcedo) Ltd. 49,287,035 
			 Clearsprings Management Ltd. 46,464,218 
			 GSL UK Ltd 46,115,610 
			 Colliers CRE 33,838,515 
			 Siemens Business Services Ltd. 32,665,918 
			 Sodexho Ltd. 30,077,693 
			 Steria Ltd. 25,348,535 
			 Carlson Wagonlit Travel 22,895,452 
			 Premier Monitoring Service Ltd. 22,835,397 
		
	
	
		
			  2003-04 
			   Amount (£) 
			 Sodexho Pass Ltd. 151,373,058.99 
			 Fujitsu Services (Alcedo) Ltd. 92,375,656.01 
			 Siemens Business Services Ltd. 70,171,056.45 
			 GSL UK Ltd. 57,216,818.74 
			 Clearsprings Management Ltd. 54,194,678.14 
			 Harmondsworth Detention Services Ltd. 43,933,566.80 
			 Roselodge Limited 43,257,617.99 
			 Premier Detention Services Ltd. 42,770,545.42 
			 Accomodata Ltd. 38,498,682.27 
			 Steria Ltd. 32,981,112.17 
		
	
	
		
			  2002-03 
			   Amount (£) 
			 Sodexho Pass Ltd. 163,344,761.81 
			 Fujitsu Services (Alcedo) Ltd. 69,456,791.98 
			 Siemens Business Services Ltd. 66,425,116.74 
			 Clearsprings Management Ltd. 42,201,843.37 
			 Roselodge Limited 40,685,728.32 
			 Accomodata Ltd. 36,586,451.28 
			 Adelphi Hotels Ltd. 32,075,935.93 
			 Wackenhut UK Limited 29,166,418.89 
			 Securicor Custodial Services 24,402,989.48 
			 Capital Accommodation Ltd. 24,155,705.74 
			 Angel Group Ltd. 23,582,798.83 
			 Glasgow City Council 23,487,262.69 
			 Premier Monitoring Service Ltd. 23,307,553.96 
		
	
	
		
			  2001-02 
			   Amount (£) 
			 Sodexho Pass Ltd. 102,978,419.06 
			 Harmondsworth Detention Services Ltd. 59,867,741.53 
			 Fujitsu Services (Alcedo) Ltd. 57,568,984.08 
			 Siemens Business Services Ltd. 57,546,494.06 
			 Group 4 Amey Immigration Ltd. 47,083,056.77 
			 Roselodge Limited 29,477,347.87 
			 Wackenhut UK Limited 28,045,598.41 
			 Adelphi Hotels Ltd. 25,724,273.50 
			 Accomodata Ltd. 21,947,343.92 
			 Angel Group Ltd. 21,131,361.36 
			 Atos Origin IT Services UK Ltd. 18,665,039.10 
			 Clearsprings Management Ltd. 18,644,159.16 
			 Capital Accommodation Ltd. 17,426,528.37

Privileged Entry

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK citizens are given privileged entry treatment when entering the UK.

Liam Byrne: UK citizens are required to satisfy the Immigration Officer that they have the right of abode when entering the United Kingdom, in accordance with the British Nationality Act 1981 and are not subject to immigration control. Those satisfying an immigration officer as above, are expedited through immigration control without further hindrance, subject to any security measures.

Reducing Reoffending Action Plan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he plans to make to the way resources are allocated to deliver the Reducing Reoffending Action Plan effectively in Wales.

Gerry Sutcliffe: While the national Reducing Reoffending Delivery Plan details the partnership work in England, similar principles and the broad approach to reducing reoffending are reflected in 'Joining Together in Wales: an Adult and Young People's Strategy to Reduce Reoffending('). The strategy was launched jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government and Home Office Ministers earlier this year and reflects the roles and responsibilities of the Welsh Assembly Government and the National Offender Management Service. It identifies the issues and aims to be addressed in Wales, which formed the basis of a consultation to develop the actions. Following the consultation, work is now underway with the Welsh Assembly Government and other key partners to develop and agree a joint action plan to deliver the strategy in Wales. Responsibility for the development of the strategy in Wales rests with the Director of Offender Management Services in Wales. Through the role of commissioning services, the Director of Offender Management Services in Wales will be able to influence the allocation of resources to pursue national objectives and in the delivery of the joint action plan. Clearly, not all resources will be allocated directly through the National Offender Management Service and those within other partners' responsibilities form part of the consideration being given to developing and resourcing the delivery of the joint action plan. In addition, to support this work, we are also developing our reducing re-offending alliances in Wales, with the corporate sector, civic society, faith groups and the voluntary sector. The aim is to bring in new skills and innovation enabling us to work effectively with ex-offenders in different ways.

Sentences

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of convicted offenders released from detention in the last 12 months served their sentence in full.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 11 September 2006
	Prison sentences are served in two parts, the first in prison and the second under restrictions in the community. Information on the average length of time served in prison by prisoners discharged from determinate sentences can be found in tables 10.1 and 10.2 of the Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004, available in the House of Commons Library. The figures provided in the tables were drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and so is not necessarily accurate to the last whole number.

Sex Offenders

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex offenders moved from approved premises adjacent to schools were moved to  (a) other approved premises,  (b) bed and breakfast accommodation and  (c) other housing; and how many were participating in sex offender treatment programmes when they were moved.

John Reid: The total number of sex offenders moved from the 12 approved premises listed as immediately adjacent to schools is 65. Of these, 49 were moved to other approved premises and 16 were relocated to other housing; none were placed in bed and breakfast accommodation. All moves were undertaken following individual risk assessments. The number of residents participating in sex offender treatment programmes when they were moved was 23.

Speed Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices have been issued for speeding as a result of the enforcement camera sited on the A13 eastbound carriageway at Pitsea; and how many tickets have been issued in each month since the camera was sited there.

Tony McNulty: Information on speeding penalties in respect of offences at specific camera locations is not held centrally.

Speed Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been employed in Essex in each year since 1997; and how many officers were engaged in monitoring traffic speed on average in each year.

Tony McNulty: Information on the number of police officers in Essex police is set out in the following table. Data on the number of officers engaged in monitoring traffic speeding is not collected. The deployment of police officers to this and other police duties is an operational matter for the chief constable.
	
		
			  Essex police—strength 1997 to 2006 
			  Year (as at 31 March )  Number of police officers 
			 1997 2,961 
			 1998 2,928 
			 1999 2,891 
			 2000 2,806 
			 2001(1) 2,887 
			 2002 2,946 
			 2003 2,989 
			 2004 3,098 
			 2005 3,190 
			 2006 3,279 
			 (1 )Boundary changes with the Metropolitan police on 1 April 2000 transferred resources to the Essex police area. Like with like comparisons cannot therefore be made for years before March 2001.

Student Visas

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people allowed into the UK under false student visas have been identified and deported in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost by the examination of individual case files.

Sustainable Training and Employment Partnership

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Sustainable Training and Employment Partnerships resettlement project; what plans he has to extend the scheme; and what assessment he has made of the costs and benefits of the project.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 20 March 2006
	The Sustainable Training and Employment Partnerships resettlement project was a local initiative at HM Prison Coldingley. The project was not evaluated formally but it has informed local resettlement activities.

Unaccompanied Minors

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 4 September 2006, Official Report, column 1975W, how many unaccompanied minors were admitted to the UK at Heathrow airport in each of the last three years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on asylum applications from unaccompanied minors is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom. Copies of these publications and others relating to general immigration to the UK are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Wales Office

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he plans to meet the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss the implications for Wales of the action plan for reform of his Department;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that the interests of Wales are fully represented at each  (a) level and  (b) stage of the action plan to reform his Department.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 24 July 2006
	As with all Cabinet colleagues, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department meets our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether clothed body searches are conducted on women and female children by male officers at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The searching of female immigration detainees can only be conducted by female members of staff. Further details of searching procedures can be found in the published Operating Standards for Immigration Removal Centres. http://horizon/IND/Directorates/OPERATIONS/Resources/PDF/DetentionServices/OperatingStandards.pdf